Geriatric Rehabilitation
Conditions
Keywords
Toileting, Technology-Assisted Toilets, Rehabilitation, Assistive Devices, Activities of Daily Living
Brief summary
Toileting is a private activity of daily living. Geriatric rehabilitation patients are often unable to toilet themselves independently, leading to embarrassment and loss of self-esteem. Relationships with their caregivers may also become strained. Furthermore, improper toileting hygiene can lead to skin irritation, breakdown and infection. Technology-assisted toilets (TATs) clean and dry the anal and vaginal regions using a stream of water and a fan. They can therefore potentially eliminate the need for patients to be able to wipe themselves. TATs are operated using wall-mounted remote controls. This study will examine the potential benefits of TAT use in geriatric rehabilitation patients. Forty patients aged ≥65 years referred for treatment of physical impairments to the Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit (GRU) of the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital (EBH) will be recruited for this study. Participants will have a bowel movement on two occasions, once using toilet paper and once using the TAT. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS), a validated questionnaire, will be used to analyze participants' toileting experience. Participants will be visually evaluated for cleanliness before and after each testing session. The investigators hypothesize that participants will report that, in comparison with use of a standard toilet, toileting using the TAT: 1) is easier to use, 2) improves psychological well-being and 3) is more effective at cleaning than regular wiping techniques.
Interventions
DEVICETechnology-Assisted Toileting
Sponsors
University of Ottawa
Bruyère Academic Medical Organization
TOTO USA
Bruyère Health Research Institute.
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. over the age of 65 2. inpatients at the EBH GRU 3. can communicate effectively in English or French 4. are able to remain balanced while sitting on a toilet 5. are able to physically use the remote control 6. are able to wipe themselves, but they do not need to be able to wipe themselves effectively
Exclusion criteria
1. are cognitively unable to provide informed consent 2. are severely aphasic 3. are undergoing treatment that interferes with toileting 4. have any conditions that increase perineal sensitivity such as ulcers, wounds, or infections 5. require two people to assist them in transferring to and from the toilet 6. are under isolation precautions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) | up to 12 weeks | Scale used to assess participants' subjective feelings of adaptability, competence, and self-esteem |
| Cleanliness Scale | up to 12 weeks | A new scale being piloted to measure cleanliness of the anal/genital regions |
Contacts
Primary ContactHillel Finestone, MD
Backup ContactDavid Yachnin, BA
Outcome results
None listed