77OLDER PEOPLE SURGICAL OUTCOMES COLLABORATION: ACADEMIC TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Introduction: OPSOC (www.opsoc.eu) is a collaboration of Surgeons, Geriatricians and Epidemiologists who have an interest in surgery in older people. Since 2013, data have been collected in Cardiff, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester and Aberdeen. It now includes collaboration with centres at Belgium and US. We aim to improve care and outcomes for older surgical patients by carrying out multi- centre research studies, many of which were led by trainees or students. Method(s): Data were collected by trainees or students on over 2000 patients over the age of 65 years old admitted with emergency general surgical conditions during different time periods during the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Data were stored securely centrally in Cardiff. Result(s): Trainees and students were the authors of five publications and four further manuscripts are under submission for publications. Trainees had delivered six platform and seventeen poster presentations and won two prizes. Three students had received funding scholarship to be involved in OPSOC. In 2016, the publication was on diabetes and multi- morbidity in 413 emergency surgical older patients. In 2017, the publication was on frailty and kidney function in 402 emergency older surgery patients. The 2018 publication was on anaemia, cognitive impairment and delirium among 653 older acute surgical patients. Manuscripts awaiting publication include anti-cholinergic burden in 452 older acute surgical patients, MALE (Male, Anaemia, Low albumin, Eighty-five years or over) risk score in 1406 older patients, cognitive impairment in 539 older patients, and comparison between operative and non- operative management in 727 older patients. Conclusion(s): OPSOC has produced numerous studies which have provided useful information in management of older surgical patients. This collaboration provides opportunities for juniors in gaining research training, presentation and publication skills. We hope our collaboration will grow bigger with more studies, publications and presentations. We would welcome collaboration from juniors.