A Personalised Approach Utilising the Frailty Index to Empower Consumers

Frailty is a common clinical syndrome in older adults that may carry an increased risk for poor health outcomes including falls, hospitalisation, and mortality. Having a colonoscopy can be associated with potential adverse outcomes in frail patients. At present, however, frailty is not routinely assessed in gastroenterological clinical practice. In a prospective randomised controlled study consenting patients over 65 years at the Princess Alexandra Hospital will receive either a) personalised (tailored) approach that includes assessment of frailty and structured information provided to the consumer or b) current standard practice in regards to having a surveillance colonoscopy to determine the effects on patient satisfaction and percentage of colonoscopies avoided.