Elderly patientsʼ experiences of care in the emergency department: a systematic review

Abstract

Review Questions/Objectives This systematic review seeks to synthesise the evidence on the experiences of care received by elderly patients in the emergency department in the hospital setting. Review questions The specific review questions to be addressed are: What is the evidence on elderly patients’ experiences of the overall care received in the emergency department? What is the evidence on elderly patients’ experiences of the nursing care received in the emergency department? What is the evidence on the needs identified by elderly patients in the emergency department? Inclusion Criteria Types of participants The review will consider studies that include male and female patients of all ethnic groups who are 65 years old and above, and admitted into the emergency department with urgent as well as non-urgent health-related issues. Phenomena of interest The review will consider studies that include the following phenomena of interest: elderly patients’ experiences of care at an emergency department. Context The review will consider studies that will include contexts such as the emergency department in the acute care hospital settings in all countries. Outcomes of Interest The outcomes of interest include but are not restricted to the following: Experiences of overall care received by elderly patients in the emergency department. Experiences of nursing care received by elderly patients in the emergency department. Identified needs of elderly patients when receiving care in the emergency department.