None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
During hospitalisation for an acute illness, an estimated 23% to 33% of older adults experience low mobility. Low levels of activity and older age are predictors of functional deterioration and poor health outcomes during hospitalisation. Yet activity levels of hospitalised older Australians has not been investigated, with previous behaviour mapping research focusing on general rehabilitation and stroke. This project will use behaviour mapping to determine the activity levels of older adults admitted to an acute aged care ward in an Australian hospital due to sustaining a fall, and examine associations between activity levels and health-related variables (e.g. functional ability, community services use, discharge destination). Falls were selected as the condition to focus on among this population as it is one of the most common reasons for admission to hospital among older adults. This project will identify potential and modifiable risk factors that could be addressed to improve patient care and outcomes for older Australians.
Interventions
Older adults admitted to the acute aged care ward at the Prince of Wales Hospital due to sustaining a fall will be recruited for this study. Once consent has been provided, participants will complete two functional outcome measures: Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (assesses functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in older adults), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (assess lower extremity function, mobility, and physical performance in older adults). The outcome measures will be comple
Older adults admitted to the acute aged care ward at the Prince of Wales Hospital due to sustaining a fall will be recruited for this study. Once consent has been provided, participants will complete two functional outcome measures: Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (assesses functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in older adults), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (assess lower extremity function, mobility, and physical performance in older adults). The outcome measures will be completed within 72 hours of admission to the acute ward, and then again prior to discharge from the ward by their treating physiotherapist. Once the initial outcome measures are completed, participants will be observed across a two-day period (one weekday and one day over the weekend) every 10 minutes from 8am to 5pm. The days of the week will be randomly selected from the six days following completion of consent and functional outcome measures. Participants are not required to interact with the research team during the observation sessions. They will be aware and consent to being observed on two days between 8am and 5pm during their admission to the acute aged care ward, but will not be informed of which actual days the observations will take place.
Sponsors
Dr Lindsey Brett
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 65 years or older - Admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital acute aged care ward due to sustaining a fall - Walking with or without aid (mobility aid or physical assistance) prior to admission - Able to provide written informed consent, or have a person responsible that can provide written informed consent on their behalf
Exclusion criteria
- Expected length of stay on the acute care ward of less than nine days - Terminally ill or on end of life pathway - On bed rest - Transferred or discharged from the acute aged care ward at the POWH prior to completion of at least one day of activity levels observation.
Outcome results
None listed