IU GERIATRICS electronic news for April 2003

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research congratulate Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, for leading an AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center team in developing recommendations on screening for dementia in primary care. The AHRQ-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued the recommendation that appears in the June 3, 2003, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine (see Publications section below). Malaz fielded questions about the announcement from health-related news sources Reuters Health, American College of Physicians Observer, HealthScout News, and Family Practice News.

While the USPSTF reports that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults, primary care clinicians should remain alert to signs of dementia whenever deterioration is suspected based on direct observation, patient report, or concerns raised by family members, friends, or caretakers. Click here to read details of the Task Force press release and to link to the recommendation.

The IU Geriatrics Program and IU Center for Aging Research value local dissemination of research results as a way to achieve quality improvement in the health systems that serve our older adults. Representatives from our program recently hosted visiting professor Jurgen Unutzer, MD, MA, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCLA. Dr. Unutzer is a geriatric psychiatrist, health services researcher, and principal investigator of project IMPACT – Improving Mood: Promoting Access to Collaborative Treatment for Late Life Depression.

With Wishard's Community Health Centers as one of IMPACT's seven national study sites, local researchers were aware of the research findings and eager to hear Dr. Unutzer's suggestions about dissemination of the model into local primary care settings. Thanks to recent grant funding from IU Medical Group - Primary Care, the IMPACT model is being implemented into the clinical services provided to patients in the GRACE program.

AWARDS

Frederick W. Unverzagt, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, has been awarded a Trustees Teaching Award for the 2002-2003 academic year. The TTA honors individuals who have a positive impact on learning through the direct teaching of students and have demonstrated a sustained level of teaching excellence in the form of documented student learning. It was presented during the IU School of Medicine Spring Faculty Meeting by Stephen Leapman, MD, executive associate dean for educational affairs, on behalf of the Indiana University Trustees. Fred is an IUCAR Affiliated Scientist and a co-investigator on the PREVENT clinical trial. Congratulations, Fred!

PUBLICATIONS

Boustani M, Peterson B, Hanson L, Harris R, Lohr K. Screening for dementia in primary care: A summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2003 June 3;138(11):927-37.

Lindenberger EC, Landefeld CS, Sands LP, Counsell SR, Fortinsky RH, Palmer RM, et al. Unsteadiness reported by older hospitalized patients predicts functional decline. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003 May;51(5):621-6.

Cook KF, Monahan PO, McHorney CA. Delicate balance between theory and practice: Health status assessment and item response theory. Med Care 2003 May; 41(5):571-4.

Harezlak J, Gao S, Hui SL. An illness-death stochastic model in the analysis of longitudinal dementia data. Stat Med 2003 May 15;22(9):1465-75.

Swenson MM, MacLeod JS, Williams SD, Miller AM, Champion VL. Quality of life among ovarian germ cell cancer survivors: a narrative analysis. Oncol Nurs Forum 2003 May-Jun;30(3):380.

Zubenko GS, Zubenko WN, McPherson S, Spoor E, Marin DB, Farlow MR, et al. A collaborative study of the emergence and clinical features of the major depressive syndrome of Alzheimer's disease. Am J Psychiatry 2003 May;160(5):857-66.

Wolinsky FD, Wyrwich KW, Kroenke K, Babu AN, Tierney WM. 9-11, personal stress, mental health, and sense of control among older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2003 May;58(3):S146-50.

PRESENTATIONS

The American Geriatrics Society held its 26th Annual Scientific Meeting May 14-18 in Baltimore, Maryland. Nearly 2,500 of the nation's top geriatrics health care specialists and researchers met at this premier forum for the latest information on clinical geriatrics, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. The following IU Geriatrics Program and IU Center for Aging Research colleagues contributed to the AGS meeting.

Chris Callahan, MD, moderated the symposium “Building Partnerships between Programs of Academic Geriatrics and General Internal Medicine.” In this symposium, Steve Counsell, MD, presented "Structure, Process, and Outcomes of a Geriatrics Program Emerging from a Division of General Internal Medicine AND Geriatrics." William Tierney, MD, presented "The Division Chief's Perspective - Balancing the Competing Needs for Identity and Integration: Specialization Within a Generalist Paradigm."

Malaz Boustani made an oral presentation in the epidemiology session, “The Prevalence of Dementia Among Vulnerable Older Adults Attending an Urban Primary Care Clinic.” Co-authors were Chris Callahan, Fred Unverzagt, Mary Guerriero Austrom, PhD, Steve Counsell, and Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, Dsc.

Steve Counsell, MD, displayed the poster, “Aging with GRACE: Implementation of a Randomized Controlled Trial.” Co-authors were Amna Buttar, MD, Chris Callahan, Tim Stump, MA, Gretchen Ricketts, BSW, Karen Bowers, RN, Dan Clark, PhD, and Wanzhu Tu, PhD.

Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH, displayed the poster “Integrating Medical Students into an Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Service.” Co-authors were Amna Buttar and Steve Counsell.

Glenda Westmoreland displayed the poster “Developing a Web-based Curriculum in Geriatrics for Primary Care Residents.” Co-authors were Deb Litzelman, MD, and Steve Counsell.

Youcef Sennour, MD, displayed the poster, “Factors Influencing Implementation of Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Team Recommendations.” Co-authors were Michael Weiner, MD, MPH, Anthony Perkins, MS, and Steve Counsell.

Malaz Boustani displayed the poster, “The Prevalence of Dementia Among Vulnerable Older Adults Attending an Urban Primary Care Clinic.” Co-authors were Chris Callahan, Fred Unverzagt, Mary Guerriero Austrom, Steve Counsell, and Hugh Hendrie.

Malaz Boustani displayed the poster “Does Dementia Increase the Risk for Fractures in Residential Care/Assisted Living (RC/AL) Residents?”

Malaz Boustani displayed the poster “Acceptance of Memory and Depression Screening: A Mailed Survey.” The local co-author was Bridget Fultz, MA.

Usha Subramanian, MD, MS, displayed the poster, “Research in Homecare Telemedicine: Challenges in Subject Recruitment – Interim Results.” Local co-authors were David Smith, MD, Peter Woodbridge, MD, MBA, and Carla Anderson, MSN.

During the AGS annual meeting, the IU Geriatrics Program also exhibited its new program display and hosted a dinner for program personnel and other meeting attendees from Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH, participated as a speaker for the IUSM Department of Medicine's Faculty Enrichment and Education Development (FEED) Series on May 21st. The inaugural session, "How to Give Effective Feedback," was an interactive workshop designed to improve and strengthen physician teaching skills when in a supervisory role.

Wanzhu Tu, PhD, attended 2003 Spring Meeting of ENAR, the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society March 30 – April 2 in Tampa, Florida. The society advances biological science through the development of quantitative theories and the application, development and dissemination of effective mathematical and statistical techniques. Its members are biologists, mathematicians, statisticians, and others interested in applying similar techniques.

Amna Buttar, MD, was a featured speaker at a workshop on "Alzheimer's and Related Dementias" presented May 13 at the Pakistan Medical Association House in Karachi, Pakistan. Amna spoke about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's and issues in family caregiving.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join us at the next Aging Research Work in Progress June 24, 8:00-9:00am when Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, presents "Collaborative Management of Agitation in Long-term Care." WIP meets at the Roudebush VA Health Services Research & Development Service in D6005.