Efficacy of an Active Geriatric Evaluation for Geriatric Syndromes to Prevent Functional Decline in Family Medicine

Yearly administration of the brief assessment tool (BAT). Once the presence of one or more geriatric syndromes is suspected using the brief assessment tool, a management strategy is proposed. It is divided in two distinct steps: 1) perform additional tests to confirm or exclude the diagnosis and 2) to propose specific management attitudes. All proposed attitudes are based on literature review and geriatrician expertise. The FP remains free to follow the proposed attitudes.

"No specific intervention will be provided to the patients, except what family practitioners (FPs) usually do. In this regard, it is possible that some FPs might use structured interventions similar to the AGE tool. This will be neither encouraged nor discouraged. FPs in the usual care arm will be asked to perform one BAT after 2 years of follow-up, at the final patient visit."