Developing a Frailty Framework for Vulnerable Populations
The featured article from the current issue of ANS is titled “Development of a Frailty Framework Among Vulnerable Populations,” authored by Benissa E. Salem, PhD, MSN, RN; Adeline Nyamathi, PhD, ANP, FAAN; Linda R. Phillips, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA; Janet C. Mentes, PhD, APRN, BC, FGSA; and Catherine Sarkisian, MD, MSPH; Mary-Lynn Brecht, PhD. Recognizing that nursing is at the forefront of care for most vulnerable populations, they collaborated in developing a wholistic framework that can be used to guide research with these very difficult-to-reach groups of people. Dr. Salem shared this message about their work:
Mary-Lynn Brecht, Janet C. Mentes, Adey Nyamathi, Benissa E. Salem, Catherine Sarkisian and Linda Phillips.
We are so pleased that our article has been selected to be featured in this current issue of ANS. I have been so blessed to work with my dissertation chair, Dr. Nyamathi, along with my committee members, Drs. Phillips, Mentes, Brecht and Sarkisian in the development of this manuscript. Further, I have been privileged to consult with Drs. Gobbens and Morley regarding the model. The framework has been inspired by several disciplines (nursing, gerontology/geriatrics and vulnerable populations), along with those who are homeless. Frailty itself is a construct which is challenging to disentangle. When working with vulnerable populations, specifically, homeless populations, it is imperative to understand unique antecedents which may influence frailty and outcomes. Drawing upon the literature focused upon homelessness, discussion with experts, and based upon experience and discussion among coauthors, the model guides possible antecedents, along with frailty, and the outcomes. Future models related to this construct should assess nursing intervention components and the potential for frailty to be a dynamic, rather than a static state. Further, application of the model and refinement related to other vulnerable populations are all areas of future work.
While this article is featured, you can download it at no cost. We hope you will do so, and return here to offer your ideas and responses to this very important work.
ANS: Advances in Nursing Science Blog 