psychosocial factors influence on PF and CI in older people V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The influence of psychological and social factors on the lived experience of people living with co-existent physical frailty (PF) and cognitive impairment (CI)
IRAS ID
294950
Contact name
Alison Ellwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bradford
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
IRAS189, University application reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Research Summary
The global population is ageing, and as people age they are more susceptible to illnesses, including physical frailty and cognitive decline. Physical frailty refers to decline over multiple bodily systems and can result in rapid changes in health. As well as physical decline some cognitive changes, to memory and thought processes, are anticipated in later life. However, people can develop more noticeable cognitive impairment, which can impact on quality of life or develop into dementia. People who live with both physical and cognitive decline tend to require more support from health and social care and have worse wellbeing than healthy peers. The need to understand why some people develop both physical and cognitive decline and appropriate ways to ways to support people who live with both physical frailty and cognitive impairment is a priority for healthcare research. Psychological and social factors contribute to health but tend to be under researched compared to biological causes. People who live with both physical frailty and cognitive impairment aged over 75 years would be eligible to take part in this study. The study will collect life histories by interviewing participants, asking them about their current health and reflecting back on current and past social and psychological factors which may impact on their current health. Narratives and life histories have been used as the basis for developing more appropriate therapies and supportive interventions in healthcare research. It is hoped that this study will inform future work with health and social care professionals to improve care provision for older people. This study aims to understand the lived experience of people living with co-existent physical frailty and cognitive impairment, including how they describe the impact of any psychological and social factors upon the onset and trajectory of their health and wellbeing.
Summary of Results
A life course analysis of the influence of psychological and social factors on ageing with co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment.
Frailty and cognitive impairment often co-exist as people age, those with both of these conditions often have worse health and poorer quality of life. It is important to understand what influence psychological and social factors may have on the experience of ageing with frailty and cognitive impairment. This research was carried out as part of a PhD project, it was funded and sponsored by the University of Bradford. A group of advisors made of older people, researchers and those who care for older people were consulted on the design and undertaking of the project at various stages.
Nine men and eight women, living with frailty and mild cognitive impairment, were recruited from the Community Ageing Research 75+ study, a cohort of people aged 75 and over, across the United Kingdom. The life histories of participants were obtained through telephone interviews, due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Key findings reflect the accumulation and influence of psychological and social factors over the life course. These include childhood experiences, the value and nature of support from family and friends and how financial resources may provide comfort when ageing. Physical decline was anticipated by the participants, and accepted to varying degrees, however cognitive change was more feared. The importance of retaining a sense of self against a background of the physical, cognitive, psychological and social changes which embody ageing was evident.
It was highlighted that older people place value upon practical accessible healthcare, which promotes quality of life through pain management, and the importance of holistic and tailored supportive measures to promote independence. Therefore, services which are more proactive about frailty status, and take account of cognitive impairments are required. Further work is being considered to build upon these findings to identify appropriate strategies for managing frailty in those with co-existent cognitive impairment. The findings of this study form part of a PhD thesis, have been presented at international conferences and will be published in appropriate journals in the coming months.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0111
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion