title: A systematic review of interventions for elder abuse.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to use rigorous systematic review methods to summarize the effectiveness of interventions for elder abuse. Only eight studies met our inclusion criteria. Evidence regarding the recurrence of abuse following intervention was limited, but the interventions for which this outcome was reported failed to reduce, and may have even increased, the likelihood of recurrence. Elder abuse interventions had no significant effect on case resolution and at-risk caregiver outcomes, and had mixed results regarding professional knowledge and behavior related to elder abuse. The included studies had important methodological limitations that limit our ability to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of these interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. ploegj@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ploeg
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fear
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: Gale
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design; D055502:Secondary Prevention