Project:
Dr Ian Williams
GP and researcher, University of Queensland

Funding:
Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Strategy Fellowship Network

Australia’s rapidly ageing population has a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability, a trend that is creating greater challenges in efforts to meet the social and health needs of older adults.

The Australian Government’s Enhanced Primary Care program specifically promotes preventive and coordinated care for older adults by funding health assessments of patients over 75.

This new study - undertaken by the GPs, nurses and staff at a large suburban practice in Brisbane - used health assessments performed by a GP-nurse team to identify both the physical and psychosocial needs of community-dwelling patients aged over 75 years.

Of the 546 patients in the study, the research found that 50% of women and 25% of men lived alone. Ninety per cent of participants reported one or more health problems, with musculoskeletal issues being the most common. Men rated their health more poorly than women, who reported more psychological distress. Of the health assessments reviewed 12 months on, improvements were found in patient immunisation rates, self-rated health status, blood pressure, vision and hearing.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing population, this study has demonstrated that health assessments and collaboration between GPs and community nurses may represent an important solution to improving the quality of life for older Australians living the community.

View the project abstract on ROAR