1. Progressing to Objective Measures of Daily Mobility in Hospitalized Older Adults
- Author
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Theresa A, Floegel, Alberto, Flórez-Pregonero, Linda P, Bolin, and Catherine L, Taylor
- Subjects
Hospitalization ,Accelerometry ,Humans ,Length of Stay ,Gerontology ,General Nursing ,Aged - Abstract
Accurate mobility assessment of hospitalized older adults is necessary to aid nurses in planning and providing appropriate mobility support; however, nurses cite lack of resources and time limitations as barriers. Accelerometry enables a detailed objective measurement of predominant hospital mobility activities in the older adult population, such as percent time sitting, and the sit-to-stand (STS) transition. The current exploratory study examined the use of a novel, unobtrusive accelerometry technique to obtain postural and STS metrics on 27 older adults during their hospital stay. Total device wear time in the hospital was 96.2%. Participants spent 60.3% time lying, 20.3% time sitting, 5.3% time standing, and 2% time stepping during hospitalization, and, on average, completed the STS transition 20 times ( SD = 13) per 24-hour period. There were no participant complaints about wearing the device. Our exploratory study shows accelerometry provides automated, continuous data and may support accurate nursing assessment of patient mobility. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48 (5), 35–41.]
- Published
- 2022
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