Cited by 156COVID-19 and Mental HealthTelemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationCOVID-19 and healthcare impacts

Action at a distance: geriatric research during a pandemic

Open access
Nicol, Ginger E., Piccirillo, Jay F., Mulsant, Benoit H., Lenze, Eric J.·2020·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Abstract

BACKGROUND: “Action at a distance” may be the new norm for clinical researchers in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic that may require social distancing for the next 18 months. We must minimize face‐to‐face contact with vulnerable populations. But we must also persist, adapt, and help our older patients and study participants during the pandemic. METHODS: Clinical researchers have an obligation to help, and we can. Recommendations for clinical researchers working with older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic are discussed. RESULTS: Implement technology now : Minimize face‐to‐face contact with participants by utilizing digital tools, such as shifting to electronic informed consent and digital HIPAA‐compliant tools such as e‐mailed surveys or telehealth assessments. Assess the psychological and social impact of COVID‐19 : How are participants coping? What health or social behaviors have changed? How are they keeping up with current events? What are they doing to stay connected to their families, friends, and communities? Are their healthcare needs being met? Current studies should be adapted immediately to these ends. Mobilize research platforms for patient needs : Leverage our relationships with participants and rapidly deploy novel clinical engagement techniques such as digital tools to intervene remotely and reduce the negative effects of social isolation on our participants. Equip research staff with tangible resources, and provide timely population‐specific health information to support patients and healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS: We have an opportunity to make an impact on our older adult patients now as this pandemic continues to unfold. Above all, clinical researchers need to continue working, to help as many people as possible through the crisis. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:922–925, 2020

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  • Severity and mortality of COVID-19 worsen with increasing age and with pre-existing illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, and thus many people with dementia are at particular risk.

    “Severity and mortality of the associated disease (COVID-19) worsen with increasing age251 and with pre-existing illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes,252 and thus many people with dementia are at particular risk.”

    From Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission (2020) · cites this paper as [251]

    In “Implement Physical, Not Social Distancing” (page unavailable), the paper says older adults and people with physical illnesses, including diabetes, are at particularly high risk of dying from COVID-19. It does not specifically identify hypertension or establish that people with dementia are at particular risk, and it does not describe a graded increase in severity with age. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Thus, people with dementia are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age, multimorbidity, and difficulties in maintaining physical distancing.

    “Thus, people with dementia are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age, multimorbidity, and difficulties in maintaining physical distancing.250, 251, 252”

    From Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission (2020) · cites this paper as [251]

    The Abstract and “Implement Physical, Not Social Distancing” section say that older adults, including those with cognitive or physical comorbidities, are vulnerable during the pandemic and that older adults and people with physical illnesses face particularly high risks from COVID-19. The paper does not specifically identify people with dementia or say they have difficulty maintaining physical distancing, so it supports only part of the attributed explanation. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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2 of the 25 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. JAMA Network. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). https:// jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert. Published 2020. Accessed March 12, 2020.

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Authors
Nicol, G. E., Piccirillo, J. F., Mulsant, B. H., & Lenze, E. J.
Affiliations
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
Corresponding author
Nicol, Ginger E.
Venue
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-04-03
Volume
68
Issue
5
Pages
922-925
ISSN
  • 0002-8614 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-5415
OpenAlex
W3012577433
Cited by
156
References
25
Citations by year
2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 42
FWCI
14.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Brain Research Foundation
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • Pfizer
  • McKnight Foundation
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Research Foundation
  • Fondation Brain Canada
  • Sunovion
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation
  • Supernus Pharmaceuticals
  • Otsuka America
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR002345)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH114969, R01MH114970)
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
  • Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, older adults, geriatric research, social distancing, digital health tools, electronic consent, telemedicine, social isolation, psychological impact of COVID-19
MeSH terms
COVID-19, Aged, Geriatrics, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, Social Isolation, Telemedicine, Coronavirus Infections, Biomedical Research, Pandemics

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