Screening for elder mistreatment before hospital discharge

MIStreatment Screening in Elders Before Discharge (MISSED) Study

Not applicable Interventional The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · NCT05807568

This study is trying out a quick screening tool to help find older adults who might be experiencing abuse or neglect before they leave the hospital.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Academic / other
Locations1 site (Houston, Texas)
Trial IDNCT05807568 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to implement a brief screening tool for elder mistreatment in the Acute Care of Elders unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Texas. The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment's Elder Mistreatment - Screening And Response Tool (EM-SART) Pre-Screen will be used to identify older adults who may be experiencing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Participants will be connected to the primary Geriatric Medicine team for further evaluation and intervention to ensure their safety before discharge. The goal is to reduce missed opportunities for detecting mistreatment and improve health outcomes for elderly patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults currently admitted to the Acute Care of Elders unit who can understand and respond to screening questions.

Not a fit: Patients who are unwilling to participate in the study will not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved detection and intervention for elder mistreatment, enhancing the safety and well-being of older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success in using screening tools for elder mistreatment, indicating that this approach is promising.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* current admission to the MHH-TMC ACE unit
* ability to independently hear, understand, and verbally answer the 3 participant questions on the NCAEM's EM-SART Pre-Screen screening tool when it is read to them

Exclusion Criteria:

* unwillingness to participate in the research study.

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Elder AbuseSurveys and QuestionnairesSelf NeglectGeriatricsGeriatric AssessmentHealth Services for the AgedAgedElder Mistreatment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.