Table 6 Additional factors suggested with definitions
From: Perspectives on the representation of frailty in the electronic frailty index
Frailty Factor | Panelists’ Definitions | Rating Round: Mean (SD) | Consensus (Rating ≥ 8) Round, n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Cancer | - It may be the only issue a person has and it could be terminal | Round 2: 8.43 (1.31) | Round 2, 20 (87) |
Challenges to Healthcare Access | - Inconsistency in finding and accessing medical services | Round 2: 8.52 (1.04) | Round 2, 21 (91) |
- Lack of transportation | |||
- Anyone without a health care advocate (meaning someone to accompany to appointments, pick up prescriptions, wellness checks etc.) | |||
- Physical isolation (living far out, no access to transport) | |||
- No primary care provider/lack of family doctor | |||
- Access to regular health care provider | |||
- Lack of a family doctor | |||
Chronic Pain/Back Pain | - Chronic pain / back pain | Round 2: 8.30 (1.15) | Round 2, 20 (87) |
- Pain | |||
Communication Challenges (rated a 2nd time to clarify definition) | - inability to communicate verbally-not able to advocate for themselves, needs, desires for ongoing health care and goals of care | Round 2: 8.04 (1.26) | Round 2, 19 (83) |
Round 3: 8.48 (1.31) | Round 3, 21 (91) | ||
- Handwriting deterioration | |||
- Language/cultural barriers | |||
- Low literacy | |||
Fecal Incontinence (new category created post-reflection after 1st round) | Fecal Incontinence (a sign of failure of other organs) | Round 3: 8.65 (0.93) | Round 3, 21 (91) |
Food Insecurity | - Noticeable lack of interest in meal preparation and meal planning | Round 2: 7.96 (1.19) | Round 2, 19 (83) |
- Reduction in amount of fruit and vegetables in diet | |||
- Sense of taste and smell diminish | |||
- Food insecurity | |||
Liver Failure/Cirrhosis | Liver failure/cirrhosis (end-organ failure) | Round 2: 8.13 (1.29) | Round 2, 19 (83) |
Mental Health Challenges | - Profound mental illness that impacts day to day functioning | Round 2: 8.65 (0.93) | Round 2, 22 (96) |
- Trauma/history of trauma | |||
- Profound mental Illness (i.e. schizophrenia) that impacts day to day functioning | |||
- Depression | |||
- Anxiety | |||
- Mood disorders | |||
- Mental illness/mental health disorders | |||
- Psychosis | |||
Medication Noncompliance (new category created post-reflection after 1st round) | Noncompliance to medication (can impact an individuals mental and physical health depending on what the medication is used for) | Round 3: 8.39 (1.47) | Round 3, 22 (96) |
Poverty/Financial Difficulties (new category created post-reflection after 1st round) | - Poverty (inability to gain access to resources and services required to prevent health decline) | Round 3: 9.04 (0.93) | Round 3, 23 (100) |
- Financial difficulties (leaving people unable to afford basic necessities) | |||
- Loss of income- inability to afford medication, health equipment, housing | |||
- Low income | |||
- Low socioeconomic status; these individuals may not have access to adequate nutrition, transportation to appointments or the means to pay out of pocket for prescriptions necessary to optimize health | |||
- Financial insecurity | |||
Race/Ethnicity Disparity (new category created post-reflection after 1st round) | Race/ethnicity disparity (i.e. differences in health/health outcomes between racial/ethnic groups) | Round 3: 7.70 (1.49) | Consensus not achieved |
Sedentary/Low Activity Levels | - Sedentary/low activity levels | Round 2: 8.09 (1.12) | Round 2, 21 (91) |
- Views on exercise and activity | |||
Substance Use/Misuse | - Substance misuse/abuse—alcohol in particular in the elderly but other recreational drug abuse as well | Round 2: 8.35 (1.27) | Round 2, 21 (91) |
- Alcohol/Smoking | |||
- Addiction | |||
- Drug and substance use disorders |