Aims:
General practices are the primary point of healthcare contact for older Australians. However, the traditional 10–15-minute appointment model focuses on disease rather than functional issues, leading to missed opportunities to improve the quality of life for older patients. Given that 20% of Australians are likely to live with frailty, this research aims to identify barriers to frailty screening in general practice and explore solutions to enhance older people’s care.
Methods:
Clinicians from general practices in South Australia, NSW, and Queensland were surveyed about personal and professional barriers to recognising frailty. Surveys were distributed during professional development workshops or via email to practices engaged in projects improving older people’s care. Responses were collated and thematically analysed.
Results:
234 clinicians responded with 475 answers. Key barriers identified included: lack of knowledge (32%), time constraints (26%), patient factors (21%), and lack of software support for frailty screening (17%). 75% of clinicians had no formal training in geriatric care, yet 52% were still conducting health assessments for patients aged 75+. Reliance on medical software for reminders of what is required for a health check was common. Only 1% felt frailty screening was not relevant.
Conclusions:
Understanding these barriers has enabled the development of solutions to improve frailty screening and management in general practice, crucial for preventing hospital admissions related to frailty. Early intervention is essential to altering the trajectory of frailty, challenging the outdated belief that aging is unchangeable and highlighting the need for more targeted education and resources for healthcare providers.