Risk of violence and frailty syndrome among older adults treated at a hospital service.
Jefferson da Silva Soares, Ana Carolina Dos Santos, Renata Clemente Dos Santos-Rodrigues and 3 others
PMID 37255185WHAT IT FOUND
Hospitalized older adults who felt depressed or lacked social support were significantly more likely to be at risk of violence.
Frailty scores correlated with violence risk, suggesting that assessing mood and support networks during hospital admission helps identify vulnerable patients.
Key findings
01Depressed mood and lack of social support were the strongest independent predictors of violence risk among hospitalized older adults.
02Higher frailty scores were positively correlated with higher risk of violence scores.
03Forgetfulness with medication and slower functional performance were also associated with increased risk of violence.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used non-probabilistic quota sampling, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. It was a cross-sectional design, so it cannot prove that frailty causes violence risk or vice versa; the relationship may be bidirectional. The study was conducted in two hospitals in Brazil, which may affect the applicability of the specific instruments and prevalence rates to other cultural or healthcare settings. Self-report measures for violence risk and mood may be subject to bias if patients were reluctant to disclose sensitive information.
Declared interests
The study received funding from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that physical frailty alone is the primary driver of violence risk. The study shows that psychological factors like depression and social factors like lack of support are stronger independent predictors. A physically frail but socially supported patient may be at lower risk than a less frail patient who is isolated and depressed.