This protocol describes a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial evaluating an embedded perioperative geriatric service for >2000 older surgical patients, with length of stay as the primary outcome.
Does a proactive geriatrician-led service reduce length of stay in older surgical patients?
This protocol describes a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate whether an embedded geriatric perioperative service reduces length of stay and improves outcomes for older surgical patients.
Introduction Older patients admitted under surgical care have longer length of stay (LOS) and are at risk of functional decline, hospital-acquired complications and geriatric syndromes. Embedded specialist geriatrician models within surgical care teams can reduce length of stay and perioperative complications. Evidence gaps remain regarding the implementation of these models of care and their impact on patient outcomes. This study aims to measure hospital, patient and implementation outcomes of an embedded perioperative geriatric service in a large Australian tertiary referral hospital. Methods and analysis This hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial involves four services (emergency general, elective general, urology and vascular surgery), with a predicted reach of >2000 patients over 24 months. The intervention consists of a proactive geriatrician-led service providing a comprehensive geriatric assessment and ongoing review during the acute admission. Service evaluation will be via (1) traditional hospital outcomes (primary outcome LOS) ; (2) implementation outcomes; and (3) patient reported outcomes across three 6 month phases: (1) prior to service implementation; (2) during service implementation and (3) continued service but without active implementation. Data analysis will include descriptive statistics of patient demographics, clinical characteristics and implementation outcomes; cost-effectiveness; univariate and multivariate analysis of outcomes against demographic and clinical characteristics and thematic analysis of qualitative data. Ethics and dissemination This trial has been approved by the Hunter New England Research Ethics Committee (2024ETH023259). The findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. The research team will facilitate adoption more broadly within the health service. Trial registration number Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12625000404426)
Sagi et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Older patients admitted under surgical care (n=2,000). Embedded perioperative geriatric service vs. Prior to service implementation (usual care) was evaluated on Length of stay (LOS). This protocol describes a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial evaluating an embedded perioperative geriatric service for >2000 older surgical patients, with length of stay as the primary outcome.