A Methodological Approach That Integrates Offline/Digital Environment

A Methodological Approach That Integrates Offline and Digital Environments in Scientific Medical Research on Aging"fra-set"

18th Annual International Conference on Global Studies: Business, Economic, Political, Social and Cultural Aspects18-21 December 2024, ATHENS INSTITUTE, Athens, Greece

Gesualda Bruno reseach fellow - DISMET Translational Medical Sciences Department - University of Naples "Federico II" - Neaples, Italy

FRA-SET IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF FRAILTY by Prof. P. Abete AGE-it project, PNRR - funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - AGE-it - Ageing Well in an Ageing Society, Spoke 3, Task 1.2

the research

The multicenter study Fra-set: Identification and Quantification of Frailty aims to validate the diagnostic tool fr-AGILE for identifying and quantifying frailty in hospitalized elderly patients across various care settings and to address new sociological perspectives. Questionnaires with scales administered in person are the primary tools, so the research is qualitative – quantitative. The methodological approach combines offline personalized assessments with digital data processing in order to meet specific medical needs.

Keywords

Aging, Customization, Fragility, Integrated methodology

contemporary scientific research often refers to DIGITAL FIELD and MOBILE DEVICES:medical wearable devices / created ad hoc devices - pre-existing or used everyday - smartwatches / fitness trackers / bracelets devices for monitoring sleep / heart rate / blood pressure social media platforms / chats / panels / blogs electronic health records / online databases / medical registries HOWEVER METHODOLOGICAL CHOICES REMAIN DEPENDENT ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND GOALS OF THE RESEARCH ITSELF

INTRODUCtioN SFBSXBN SXN C

INTRODUCti oN

Methodological Choices

"Assessing Frailty in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of the Edmonton Frail Scale" analyzes and compares advantages and disadvantages of offline versus digital approaches, indicating the need for further research to better define the latter domain.Chen CY et al, 2020

Methodological Choices and Specific Needs

why Collecting data Offline?

• face to face from doctors to patients/caregivers, through tools like Edmonton Frail Scale and fr-AGILE in healthcare facilities with various care intensities as a well estabilished pratice

Methodological Choices

"Assessing Frailty in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of the Edmonton Frail Scale" analyzes and compares advantages and disadvantages of offline versus digital approaches, indicating the need for further research to better define the latter domain.Chen CY et al, 2020

Methodological Choices and Specific Needs

why this is a qualitative research?

• face to face from doctors to patients/caregivers, through tools like Edmonton Frail Scale and fr-AGILE in healthcare facilities with various care intensities as a well estabilished pratice.
• Questionnaires are administered only by specialized medical personnel to record patient’s responses along with objective medical observations

Methodological Choices and Specific Needs

Collecting data Offline

• face to face from doctors to patients or caregivers, through tools like Edmonton Frail Scale and fr-AGILE in healthcare facilities with various care intensities

Key considerations

• Informed consent is essential for patient participation
• Digital divide: we recognize the elderly population’s limited access to digital tools
• Need for new sociological perspectives in the Frail Scale

• There is a NEED for an extreme personalization of diagnosis

• INFORMED CONSENT is essential for patient participation, it remains “an important ally for the collection of sensitive data” (Corbetta, 2014, p. 156)

• DIGITAL DIVIDE: we recognize the potential lack of familiarity with technology that may pose an obstacle to administering tests (Chen et al. 2020)

• “IN-PERSON DATA COLLECTION” remains a “fundamental aspect when it comes to investigating phenomena related to care” (Mortari, 2007, p. 72)

Key considerations

Fra-set

Methodological Choices The Research Project

Methodological Choices and Specific Needs

Key considerations

• There is a NEED for an extreme personalization of diagnosis

• INFORMED CONSENT is essential for patient participation, it remains “an important ally for the collection of sensitive data” (Corbetta, 2014, p. 156)

• DIGITAL DIVIDE: we recognize the potential lack of familiarity with technology that may pose an obstacle to administering tests (Chen et al. 2020)

• “IN-PERSON DATA COLLECTION” remains a “fundamental aspect when it comes to investigating phenomena related to care” (Mortari, 2007, p. 72)

04. sample and protocol

03. study goals

The Research Project “fr-AGILE: Identification and Quantification of Frailty in Elderly Patients in Different Healthcare Settings (fra-SET)”

01. Study Context

02. Paradigm Shift

04. sample and protocol

03. study goals

800 patients aged 65+, assessed using fr-AGILE and Edmonton Frail Scale, with analyses based on data concordance and inter-rater reliability

Validate fr-AGILE as a fast, multidimensional diagnostic tool that can efficiently assess frailty in elderly patients in various healthcare settings

Transition from Fried's physical model of frailty to a bio-psycho-social model

Aging demographics and chronic-degenerative diseases create a need for precise frailty assessment tools in elderly care

The Research Project “fr-AGILE: Identification and Quantification of Frailty in Elderly Patients in Different Healthcare Settings (fra-SET)”

01. Study Context

02. Paradigm Shift

New Psycho-Cognitive and Social Approaches

THE SOCIAL SUPPORT SCALE

• Bio-Psycho-Social Model: Moves beyond a biological-only view, addressing psycho-cognitive and social dimensions of frailty • Social Support Scale: - Components: 16 questions, number 6, which concerns the financial situation and number 8, which concerns concrete social support have both particular relevance - Scoring: Results indicate levels of social support, from “good” to “poor,” offering insight into patients’ broader social vulnerability

developing new digital tools

The fr-AGILE App

• Objective: Develop a mobile app to assist in fr-AGILE data collection • Features: - Easy to use and enabling a rapid frailty identification - Data storage: automatically stores data on DISMET servers, contributing to a digital database for further research - Potential future use: allows for possible integration of results into electronic health records, enhancing care continuity

conclusions

06. METhODOLOGy

Highlights

the need for an offline approach, tailored for sensitive, personalized assessments in elderly patients

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Expand the fr-AGILE model and refine the app for use in various healthcare systems, with an eye on personalizing elderly care.

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