START DATE AND DURATION: 2024The Electronic Frailty Index (eFI) is used by GP computer systems to assist clinicians to better identify frail patients and inform their care.
It has recently been updated, with involvement from the NIHR ARC North Thames, to improve clinical utility as the eFI2. However, research is needed into how the eFI2 can be implemented and utilised informing decision-making.
Furthermore, primary care clinicians manage frailty across different settings, including care homes. Research is needed exploring how the eFI2 can support care planning across settings.
This research is exploring existing challenges to implementation of the eFI2, namely:
- How to ensure the eFI2 is useful in the identification and management of frailty
- How eFI2 can be used within existing frailty management pathways
- How eFI2 results can be communicated to patients
- How the eFI2 can be used in those with moderate and severe frailty (eg care homes) to tailor care planning, for example, fall prevention interventions
Research is being conducted through up to six focus groups with 6-8 participants working in primary care, including but not restricted to GPs, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals, supplemented with one-to-one interviews with under-represented professions.
People with lived experiences are involved throughout, including protocol development, topic guides, analysis and when sharing findings through public engagement activities.
This research will aid understanding of how eFI2 can be incorporated into care planning discussions, which may reduce inappropriate emergency admissions and hospital stays, saving the NHS money.
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