Kong, Jonathan, Trinh, Kelly, Hammill, Kathrine, and Chen, Carla Chia-Ming (2026) Eliciting Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Frailty in Long-Term Care: Perceptions of Frailty-Related Terms. Advances in Geriatric Medicine and Research, 8.

Preview

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (517kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: Frailty is widely recognized as a multidimensional condition in long-term care, yet how it is described and prioritized in everyday clinical practice varies across professional groups. Understanding how healthcare professionals interpret frailty-related language is important for effective clinical documentation, interdisciplinary communication, and care planning in aged care settings. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey using purposive and snowball sampling was conducted with 51 healthcare professionals working in aged care. Participants rated the importance of 65 predefined frailty-related terms using a five-point Likert scale. Terms were mapped to six frailty dimensions: physical, functional, cognitive, psychological, social, and nutritional. Descriptive analyses were used to examine endorsement patterns by professional role and years of clinical experience. Results: Physical frailty descriptors received the strongest and most consistent endorsement, with susceptible to falls, health deterioration, and bed-bound rated among the most important. Cognitive indicators and malnutrition were also widely recognized. In contrast, psychological and social terms showed greater variability in agreement. Endorsement differed by profession, with doctors and nurses emphasizing physical and nutritional indicators, allied health professionals demonstrating more variable patterns, and care workers showing broader recognition across dimensions. Less experienced respondents endorsed a wider range of terms, whereas more experienced clinicians were more selective. Conclusions: Frailty in long-term care is most commonly recognized through physical and cognitive indicators, with less consistent attention to psychological and social dimensions. Clarifying how frailty is described and prioritized across disciplines can inform clinical documentation practices, support interdisciplinary communication, and guide future efforts to strengthen frailty recognition in long-term care.

Item ID:	92310
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2632-9921
Keywords:	frailty; aged care; long-term care; healthcare professionals; interdisciplinary practice
Copyright Information:	Copyright © 2026 by the author. Licensee Hapres, London, United Kingdom. This is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Date Deposited:	31 Aug 2026 06:28
FoR Codes:	46 INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES > 4602 Artificial intelligence > 460209 Planning and decision making @ 35% 46 INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES > 4611 Machine learning > 461103 Deep learning @ 35% 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420301 Aged health care @ 30%
SEO Codes:	22 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 2204 Information systems, technologies and services > 220403 Artificial intelligence @ 70% 20 HEALTH > 2005 Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) > 200502 Health related to ageing @ 25% 11 COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM > 1199 Other commercial services and tourism > 119999 Other commercial services and tourism not elsewhere classified @ 5%
Downloads:	Total: 9 Last 12 Months: 9
	More Statistics