(New) Implementing the National Frailty Policy in Singapore’s primary care: The Intrinsic Capacity ProMotion in PrimAry Care for The Frail Programme

Full name: Implementing the National Frailty Policy in Singapore’s primary care: The Intrinsic Capacity ProMotion in PrimAry Care for The Frail Programme (IMPACTFrail)

Age Well SG strand: Strengthen support for seniors with care needs in the community

Principal Investigator: Dr Grace Sum Chi-En (Research Fellow, GERI)

Collaborating Organisation(s): National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, National University Polyclinics, SingHealth Polyclinics

Gap: Early mitigation of declining physical and psychological well-being (known as intrinsic capacity) in older people may help them function well and have good quality of life even as they grow old. Additionally, there is a need for more research projects with three-cluster collaborations from the outset, to facilitate the successful execution of health programmes nationwide.

Planned Solution: GERI has co-developed the IMPACTFrail programme with three Regional Health System (RHS) polyclinic groups. It is an intrinsic capacity identification and management programme that screens mildly frail older adults on six intrinsic capacity domains in polyclinics and provides coordinated care across health and social services. Implementation research guides the development and feasibility assessment of the new programme among five polyclinics. Subsequently, a scaled-up programme may be evaluated for its effectiveness and implementation.

Anticipated Impact: (1) Informs the MOH Frailty Implementation Workgroup and polyclinic leadership teams on the feasibility of scaling this programme, and how this programme can directly fulfil their aim of translating national strategies to real actionable change. (2) Informs the integration of IMPACTFrail with existing clinical practices and health programmes in polyclinics. (3) Early interventions to impede decline in and to improve intrinsic capacity and functional ability. (4) Optimising intrinsic capacity will facilitate the ability to maintain a socially active life. The cost analysis informs the cost of scaling this new programme to more polyclinics across the 3 RHSes.

Duration: Mar 2024 to Mar 2026