BACKGROUND: Geriatric syndromes (GSs) such as cognitive decline, malnutrition, and mobility impairment are common among older adults and associated with adverse health outcomes. Traditional paper-based assessments are often resource-intensive and difficult to implement in primary care. The World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework emphasizes early detection, yet evidence on the implementation of self-administered online screening in Southeast Asia is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of GSs in primary care, (2) identify associated factors, and (3) evaluate preliminary process indicators of an online self-administered geriatric screening tool based on the ICOPE framework and Thai national guidelines. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2024 across seven primary care units in Bangkok, Thailand. Older adults aged ≥ 60 years were randomly selected from daily clinic lists. Participants completed an online questionnaire covering demographics, comorbidities, health behaviors, and 10 geriatric screening questions. Those screening positive underwent in-depth assessments by trained nurses using validated tools (e.g., Mini-Cog, Snellen chart, Timed Up and Go test). Associations between participant characteristics and GSs were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Preliminary process indicators were assessed through completion rates, need for caregiver assistance, acceptability, and completion time. RESULTS: A total of 374 participants (mean age 76.4 years, 63.6% female) were included. Multimorbidity was present in 76.7% and polypharmacy in 58.6%. The most prevalent GSs were limited mobility (49.7%), vision impairment (43.6%), and undernutrition (34.8%). Significant risk factors for GSs included older age for hearing loss (adjusted odds ratio OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.19-4.72), low education for limited mobility (aOR 8.14, 95% CI 2.25-29.52) and urinary incontinence (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 1.36-8.89), multimorbidity for urinary incontinence (aOR 3.12, 95% CI 1.34-7.29), and polypharmacy for cognitive decline (aOR 2.70, 95% CI 1.25-5.81) and depressive symptoms (aOR 3.40, 95% CI 1.31-8.84). Protective factors included regular physical exercise and normal body mass index against multiple GSs. Regarding preliminary process indicators, 81.5% completed the online screening independently, the average completion time was 12.8 min, and 88.9% reported the system was easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: A self-administered online geriatric screening tool adapted from the ICOPE framework is feasible, acceptable, and effective in detecting GSs in primary care. The high prevalence of GSs highlights the urgent need for scalable digital solutions. Integrating online screening into primary care workflows could facilitate early identification, optimize resource use, and promote healthy aging in resource-constrained settings.
Srisuwan et al. (Sat,) studied this question.