Assessment Protocol for Older Adults With Substance Use

J Addict Nurs. 2019 Oct/Dec;30(4):242-247. doi: 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000306.

Abstract

This quality improvement project focuses on geriatric syndromes in patients 55 years and older admitted to a Minnesota substance abuse treatment center. Age-specific assessments identify abnormal conditions or geriatric syndromes, which prompt earlier nursing and medical interventions. Nursing staff attended a training program that focused on older adults and the use of the Fulmer SPICES tool for patients over the age of 55 years. Pretest and posttest scores showed a positive change in nursing knowledge with an increase in mean test scores of 10.32 (SD = 1.763) to 12.81 (SD = 1.545), p = .000. A 2-month preimplementation and postimplementation chart audit identified changes in assessment findings using the SPICES tool with an increase in adverse outcomes (1.03%) including sleep problems in 75.4% (n = 43) of the target population.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment*
  • Health Services for the Aged
  • Humans
  • Inservice Training
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minnesota
  • Nursing Diagnosis*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / nursing