RecruitingACTRN12623000969662

Feasibility and acceptability of an Integrated Safe Mobilisation Program in Rehabilitation on Functional Mobility and Fall Risks in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Decreased Mobility: A Pilot Study

Is it feasible to integrate a safe mobilisation program in inpatient rehabilitation settings to improve functional mobility and reduce the risk of falls in adults 65 years and over with cognitive impairment and decreased mobility?

Sponsor

The University of Sydney

Enrollment

30 participants

Start Date

Jan 24, 2024

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

decreased functional mobility (gait, balance and transfers)

Summary

The research project will investigate the feasibility and acceptability of training community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment and decreased mobility and their carers of the safe mobilisation strategies in inpatient geriatric rehabilitation. It will also explore the potential effectiveness of the program on risk of falls. The project aims to recruit 30 participants, with 15 participants in the intervention group and control group respectively. The 2-week intervention program will be carried out by allied health staff (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) in an inpatient rehabilitation setting to train the participants and their family members/carers safe mobilisation strategies in addition to usual care, These strategies will focus on behavioural change and safe habit formation to manage decreased functional mobility that contribute to increased risk of falls. The intervention will be integrated into gait and functional training and fall prevention education. The control group will receive usual care, which includes functional and gait training, fall prevention education, home assessment and hazard reduction, installation of equipment and modification as required. As the program will integrate the intervention into existing rehabilitation services, this research project will provide insight in efficient and effective ways of reducing fall risks in this population, and the data obtained from the study will inform large scale clinical trails in public and private rehab settings and possible community centres.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 65 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and loss of independence in older adults, and the risk is even higher in people who also have some degree of cognitive impairment. When older adults with both reduced mobility and memory difficulties are admitted to rehabilitation, they need specialised support — not just to regain their movement, but to form safer habits that will protect them when they return home. Yet current rehab programs rarely include their family members or carers as active participants in this learning. This pilot study is testing an Integrated Safe Mobilisation Program that trains both patients and their carers in safe movement strategies during a 2-week inpatient rehabilitation admission. Allied health therapists will deliver targeted behavioural coaching alongside standard physiotherapy and occupational therapy, focusing on habits that prevent falls at home. You may be eligible if you are aged 65 or older, are in an inpatient rehabilitation program under a geriatric specialist, have had a recent fall, have a carer who sees you regularly, have some difficulty with mobility, and have a mild to moderate degree of cognitive impairment. People with severe neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, or those who are cognitively intact, are not eligible for this particular program.

This is a simplified summary. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

Print for Your Doctor Check Your Eligibility

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

Brief name: Integrated Safe Mobilisation Program. The 2-week intervention program will be carried out by allied health staff (occupational therapists (OT) and physiotherapists) in an inpatient rehabi

Brief name: Integrated Safe Mobilisation Program. The 2-week intervention program will be carried out by allied health staff (occupational therapists (OT) and physiotherapists) in an inpatient rehabilitation setting to train the participants and their family members/carers safe mobilisation strategies in addition to usual care. The treating allied health staff will deliver the intervention (safe mobilisation strategy training), e.g. standing up from a chair and pausing for a few seconds before taking steps; walking with big steady steps, maintaining steady steps and rhythms when turning, and managing potential risks such as distractions and fatigue and forming safe mobilising behaviours. Following demonstration of the mobilisation tasks by the therapists, participants will be provided with verbal cues/instructions prior to each step when performing the tasks. The training will include basic training on functional mobility (all transfers such as sit to stand and bath and toilet transfers, balance and gait) and the techniques will be generalised into everyday activities. The intervention will be delivered face to face, 5-10 sessions during the intervention period, with approximately 10 minutes each session. Participants’ carers/family members will be trained to provide prompts/cues of the safe mobilisation strategies during the intervention period in the rehab facility 2-4 sessions, approximately 10 minutes each session. An OT home visit may be conducted towards later part of the admission. Safe mobilisation strategies will be applied at participant's home and their carer/family member will practise providing prompts/cues during the visit, Brochures and brief training video designed specifically for this study will be created and provided to participants' carers/family members and participating staff members. The control group will be recruited first and usual care will be provided with additional study required outcome measures; recruitment of the intervention group will commence after control group is completed. The design of this recruitment sequence is taken into consideration of the ethical perspective from the therapists and fidelity of usual care for the control group (i.e. additional strategies not to be applied in usual care).

Locations(1)

Wolper Jewish Hospital - Woollahra

NSW, Australia

View Full Details on ANZCTR

For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.

Visit

ACTRN12623000969662