An article in the May 2001 issue of...

An article in the May 2001 issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine explores a rating rule that could help physicians assess the biological age of older adult patients and thus determine their readiness and risk for surgery The "star rating" is a simple grading a whole geared toward patients' performance and lifestyle and provides a uncut indication of their biological age. The combination of parts to form a whole requires no physiological measurements or lifestyle questionnaires, and it formalizes the assessment a physician makes during each patient consultation, according to the article.

The star plan is based on the following descriptions for patient characteristics:

* five-star--physically and mentally intact;

* four-star--physical deterioration requiring adaptation of lifestyle and mental deterioration to of the same height of forgetfulness and intellectual blunting;

* three-star--physical or mental frailty that threatens independent living, which is maintained single by the input of others,

* two-star--independent existence no longer possible; and

* one-star--bed or chair bound; requires help with feeding, washing, and toilet needs; and has advanced dementia with the inability to recognize family members.

The article describes a thought in which 10 consultant surgeon and 10 trainees evaluated five different patients representing each of the star ratings. Each physician was asked to consider the correct management for 10 customary surgical problems. Results showed physicians praiseed 266 interventions for the four- and five-star patients and 55 interventions for the one- and two-star patients.

These arises suggest that decisions about surgical management are influenced according to patients' star rating or biological age. Further research is destitutioned to determine whether the star rule would allow for better communication between physicians and patients about clinical decisions, according to the article.

s M Farquharson et al, "Surgical decisions in the elderly: The importance of biological age," Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 94 (May 2001) 232-235

COPYRIGHT 2001 Association of Operating space Nurses, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group