PhD Projects
Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) and Fecal Transplantation (CLODIFRAIL Study)
The aim is to investigate whether a geriatric-tailored intervention for older patients with CDI can improve survival, functional ability, and quality of life. Additionally, the study will examine the correlation between CDI and frailty and identify risk factors for CDI recurrence and mortality.
A health economic analysis will assess the overall costs of a geriatric-tailored intervention for older patients diagnosed with CDI.
Contact Person: Tone Rubak, MD, PhD student, email: toneruba@rm.dk
Collaborators: Liver, Gastrointestinal Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital and the Nordic Institute of Health Economics
Hospital-at-Home as an Alternative to Hospitalization for Acutely Ill older Patients with Frailty
The aim is to evaluate an existing hospital-at-home program for acutely ill older patients with frailty. The project is an evaluation study utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Contact Person: Anne Hedegaard Arndt, MD, PhD student, email: anngrs@rm.dk
Collaborators: Research Unit for General Practice (Acute Care Group) and the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University
The Impact of Two-Year Training Programs for Newly Graduated Nurses
The aim is to investigate the effect of two-year training programs for newly graduated nurses in medical departments on job satisfaction, professional retention, and patient care quality. Data collection methods include semi-structured interviews with newly graduated nurses and professionals delivering the training program.
Contact Person: Manja Bjerring Rothenberg, Nurse, PhD student, email: manjch@rm.dk
Collaborators: Medical Department at Horsens Regional Hospital, Medical department at Randers Regional Hospital, Health and Care in Horsens Municipality, and VIA University College in Horsens
Bladder Cancer in the older: Geriatric Assessment and Intervention to Optimize Surgical Outcomes for Frail Patients
The aim is to investigate whether a perioperative geriatric intervention can improve the overall outcomes for frail older patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy (RC).
Contact Person: Katharina Skovhus Prior, MD, PhD student, email: katans@rm.dk
Collaborators: Urological Surgery and Geriatrics at Aarhus University Hospital, Odense University Hospital, and Aalborg University Hospital
Website: COMPETENCE
Inappropriate Medication
The aim is to define potentially inappropriate prescription medications for acutely hospitalized older patients through a Delphi process and a systematic review. Additionally, the study will assess whether inappropriate medication increases the risk of prolonged hospital stays, physical decline, need for nursing homes, and mortality.
Contact Person: Mikkel Juul Jensen, MD, PhD student, email: mikkel.juul.jensen@auh.rm.dk
Collaborator: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Aarhus University Hospital
Duration of Acute Anemia and Iron Treatment in older Patients with Hip Fractures
The aim is to investigate whether the duration of acute perioperative anaemia in frail older patients with hip fractures is associated with the development of delirium. The study will also examine whether intravenous single-dose iron treatment results in less fatigue and fewer side effects than three-month oral tablet treatment.
Contact Person: Johanne Kolind Bech, MD, PhD student, email: Johanne.Kolind.Bech@vest.rm.dk
Collaborators: Emergency, Anesthesia, and Orthopedic Surgery Departments at Gødstrup Regional Hospital and Aarhus University Hospital and Liver, Gastrointestinal Diseases at Randers Regional Hospital and Aarhus University Hospital
Development of a Danish Electronic Frailty Index (DANeFI)
The aim is to review knowledge on various electronic frailty indices through a literature study, develop a Danish index based on data from the Tværspor cohort, and test the index's ability to predict mortality, readmissions, and healthcare use at individual and population levels.
Contact Person: Laura Katrine Larsen, MD, PhD student, email: laurls@rm.dk
Collaborators: Danish Center for Health Services Research, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus
Projects
Prehabilitation and perioperative geriatric intervention for frail older adults referred for Planned Orthopedic Surgery
Objective: To investigate the proportion of frail patients undergoing knee, hip, spine, or shoulder surgery and whether frailty is associated with complications measured by the number of postoperative hospital days within 90 days.
Additionally, the aim is to explore the feasibility of implementing a multidisciplinary prehabilitation program at home, followed by geriatric intervention during hospitalization for this patient group.
Contact Person: Merete Gregersen, Associate Professor and PhD, email: mergre@rm.dk
Collaborators: Diagnostic Center, Center for Elective Surgery, and University Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital
Geriatric Physicians’ Clinical Assessment of Risk for Readmission
Objective: To examine whether a physician’s clinical assessment at discharge can predict the risk of readmission in frail older patients. Additionally, the study will investigate whether physicians can identify which patients may benefit from follow-up care by an outreach geriatric team after discharge.
Contact Person: Merete Gregersen, Associate Professor and PhD, email: mergre@rm.dk
Frailty Screening in the Emergency Department (Brief-MPI Study)
Objective: To assess whether a short version of the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (Brief-MPI) has the same ability to stratify frailty and predict acute readmissions and mortality as the full version of MPI in patients aged 65+ admitted with acute illness.
The study will also compare Brief-MPI with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) to determine how these tools can predict readmissions and mortality.
Contact Person: Merete Gregersen, Associate Professor and PhD, email: mergre@rm.dk
Contact Person: Lone Winther Lietzen, Consultant Geriatrician, PhD and Clinical Associate Professor, email: lonlie@rm.dk
Collaborators: Emergency Department, Aarhus University Hospital; SIG-CGA EuGMS; Geriatric Department in Genoa, Italy
Cerebral Complications Following Surgery for Proximal Femoral Fractures
Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for stroke and delirium in older patients with proximal femoral fractures.
Contact Person: Thomas Johannesson Hjelholt, MD, PhD, and Postdoc, email: thojoh@rm.dk
Collaborators: Orthopedic and Anesthesiology Departments, Aarhus University Hospital; Medical Department, Viborg
Development Projects
COST Action 21122: PROGRAMMING (PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine IN Countries Where It Is Still Emerging)
Description: This project encompasses several working groups that map the needs for developing geriatric medicine in European countries, create educational materials, and promote/implement training programs.
Management Committee Members: Lene Holst Andersen, MD, PhD student
Lone Winther Lietzen, Consultant Geriatrician, PhD and Clinical Associate Professor
Website: PROGRAMMING – PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine in countries where it is still eMergING
Geriatric Outreach Team
Description: The Geriatric Outreach Team is a quality and improvement project in the Central Region of Denmark, initiated by the Department of Geriatrics, Aarhus University Hospital. The aim is to optimize care pathways for frail older inpatients across various specialities/departments by ensuring systematic, evidence-based, and holistic assessment and treatment approaches.
Using the principles of the Improvement Model, the team works interdisciplinarily to enhance competencies at the bedside in the departments visited by the Outreach Team.
Contact Person: Catherine Hauerslev Foss, Head of Department, Consultant Geriatrician, PhD, email: annfos@rm.dk
Contact Person: Ane Verholt, Consultant Geriatrician, email: anever@rm.dk
Collaborators: Geriatric Departments in the Central Denmark Region
The Danish Quality Database for Older Adults with Frailty (DANFRAIL)
Chair: Lone Winther Lietzen, Consultant Geriatrician, PhD and Clinical Associate Professor
Steering Committee Member and Evidence Specialist: Thomas Johannesson Hjelholt, MD,PhD, and Postdoc, Department of Geriatrics
Website: The Danish Quality Database for Older Adults with Frailty
Danish Multidisciplinary Registry for Proximal Femoral Fractures (DRHOFTEBRUD)
Steering Committee Member: Rikke Kongensgaard, Nurse Specialist and Master, Department of Geriatrics
Steering Committee Member and Evidence Specialist:
Thomas Johannesson Hjelholt, MD, PhD, and Postdoc, Department of Geriatrics
Website: Danish Multidisciplinary Registry for Proximal Femoral Fractures
Danish Stroke Registry (DANSTROKE)
Steering Committee Member: Peter Brynningsen, Consultant Geriatrician and PhD, Department of Geriatrics
Website: Danish Stroke Registry
Integrated Cross-Sector Ward Rounds for Older Patients After Hospital Discharge: Follow-up Research on a Quality Development Project
The aim of the study is to investigate:
- Whether the intervention is practically feasible, accepted by both healthcare professionals and citizens, and if its measurement methods are working as intended
- The mechanisms and contextual factors that are important for the implementation of the intervention
- The impact of the intervention measured in terms of length of hospital stay, readmissions, patient safety, patient satisfaction, collaboration, and work environment
Contact persons: Trine Worm Thøgersen, Clinical Specialist and PhD, email: tr.thoe@auh.rm.dk and Merete Gregersen, Associate Professor and PhD, email: meregreg@rm.dk
Partners: Hormone and Bone Diseases, AUH, Quality Department, AUH and Vikærgården, Aarhus Municipality.
Targeted Intervention for the Lack of Nursing Care in Frail Older Hospitalized Patients: Development and Evaluation of a Nurse-Led Intervention
The aim is to develop and conduct a feasibility study of an intervention program with multiple components to improve the quality of nursing care for frail older hospitalized patients. The intervention program specifically targets a nurse-led effort to improve mobilization, emotional support, and information for this patient group.
Contact person: Merete Gregersen, Associate Professor and PhD, email: meregreg@rm.dk
Partners: Research Unit for Clinical Nursing, Aalborg University Hospital and Nursing Research and Development Unite, Sjælland University Hospital.
