Personalised Frailty Assessment to Help Older Adults Make Informed Decisions About Colonoscopy A Randomized Controlled Trial at Princess Alexandra Hospital

What this Trial Is About

Frailty is a common condition in older adults that can increase the risk of poor health outcomes such as falls, hospital stays, and death. This research aims to study how assessing frailty before a colonoscopy might affect patient satisfaction and the number of colonoscopies avoided. The study is a prospective randomized controlled trial involving patients over 65 years old at Princess Alexandra Hospital, comparing a personalized approach using a frailty assessment to standard care. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive a personalized approach that includes a frailty assessment using tests like grip strength, sit-to-stand timing, balance, and gait speed, along with questionnaires about medical conditions. The gastroenterologist will discuss the results and risks with the patient to help decide about having a surveillance colonoscopy. The other group will receive standard care, which involves discussing the benefits and risks of colonoscopy without the frailty assessment. During the study, participants will complete satisfaction questionnaires at the time of consultation and within weeks after any colonoscopy procedure. Researchers will track how many patients choose to avoid colonoscopy after receiving information and will monitor colorectal cancer-related complications and other causes of death within five years. The study will assess how the personalized approach may impact decision-making and patient satisfaction with outpatient services related to colonoscopy care.

A Personalised Approach Utilising the Frailty Index to Empower Consumers