title: "It's MAGIC"--development of a manageable geriatric assessment for general practice use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Geriatric assessments are established tools in institutional care since they enable standardized detection of relevant age-related disorders. Geriatric assessments could also be helpful in general practice. However, they are infrequently used in this setting, mainly due to their lengthy administration. The aim of the study was the development of a "manageable geriatric assessment--MAGIC", specially tailored to the requirements of daily primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  MAGIC was developed based on the comprehensive Standardized Assessment for Elderly People in Primary Care (STEP), using four different methodological approaches: We relied on A) the results of the PRISCUS study by assessing the prevalence of health problems uncovered by STEP, the importance of the respective problems rated by patients and general practitioners, as well as the treatment procedures initiated subsequently to the assessment. Moreover, we included findings of B) a literature analysis C) a review of the STEP assessment by experienced general practitioners and D) focus groups with general practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The newly created MAGIC assessment consists of 9 items and covers typical geriatric health problems and syndromes: function, falls, incontinence, cognitive impairment, impaired ears and eyes, vaccine coverage, emotional instability and isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAGIC promises to be a helpful screening instrument in primary care consultations involving elderly multimorbid patients. Applicable within a minimum of time it still covers health problems highly relevant with regard to a potential loss of autonomy. Feasibility will be tested in the context of a large, still ongoing randomized controlled trial on "reduction of potentially inadequate medication in elderly patients" (RIME study; DRKS-ID: DRKS00003610) in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Institute for General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. barkhausen.tanja@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barkhausen
authors.affiliation: Institute for General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. junius-walker.ulrike@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Junius-Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Goettingen, Germany. eva.hummers-pradier@med.uni-goettingen.de.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hummers-Pradier
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Goettingen, Germany. christiane.mueller@med.uni-goettingen.de.
authors.forename: Christiane A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Institute for General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. gudrun.theile@hotmail.de.|Santémed Health Center, Seebahnstrasse 89, 8036, Zuerich-Wiedikon, Switzerland. gudrun.theile@hotmail.de.
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theile
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence; D014786:Vision Disorders