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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02463864

A Twice-Daily Individual Targeted Exercise Program in Frail Hospitalised Older Medical In-patients (RCT)

This study will help to determine whether frail older medical inpatients will benefit from targeted exercise sessions performed twice daily while in hospital. Half of the patients will complete targeted strengthening, balance and endurance exercises and the other half, stretching and relaxation exercises. The exercise sessions will be assisted and supported by a senior physiotherapist.

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Key information

Conditions

Frail Older Adults Behavior Frailty Motor Activity Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mercy University Hospital

Cork, 00, Ireland

About this study

It is well known that older medical patients can experience functional decline following an acute hospital admission and this can persist for up to three months. The targeted exercises are designed to prevent this functional decline by maintaining the patients' strength, balance and endurance. To counterbalance the considerable time spent with the physiotherapy services in the intervention arm, the control group will receive stretches and relaxation exercises. Patients' length of stay is the primary outcome measure. Their physical performance and quality of life at discharge and at 3 months post discharge and their readmission rates are the secondary outcome measures.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • medical patients
  • anticipated length of stay greater than 2 days
  • planned for discharge home
  • mobility aid and /or assistance required on admission

Exclusion criteria

  • contraindications to exercise
  • unable to follow commands in the English language
  • unable to exercise with the assistance of one person only
  • when active palliative care is required
  • when full isolation for containment of a contagious infection is required

Treatment and study plan

Intervention exercise

Other

Twice daily, individual, targeted, strengthening, balance and endurance exercises for the duration of the hospital stay, prescribed and delivered by a senior physiotherapist.

Other names: Augmented Prescribed Exercise Program

Sham Exercise

Other

Twice daily stretching and relaxation exercises for the duration of the hospital stay, by a senior physiotherapist.

Primary outcomes

  1. Length of Stay

    Time frame: At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission)

    Patients length of hospital stay is recorded at the time of discharge from electronic admissions data

Secondary outcomes

  1. Physical Performance

    Time frame: At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission); and again at 3 months post discharge

    The Short Physical Performance Battery will be completed, which includes a timed 4 m walk. Patients can score 0-12; scoring higher with better physical performance.

  2. Quality of Life

    Time frame: At time of discharge from hospital (an expected average of 8 days post admission); and again at 3 months post discharge

    The EQ5D-5L will be completed by the patient.

  3. Re-admission Rate

    Time frame: From the time of hospital discharge to 3 months post discharge

    The number of admissions within 3 months following the index admission will be recorded from hospital electronic records

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University College Cork

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomised Controlled Trial to Measure the Effects of Twice-Daily Individual, Targeted, Strengthening, Balance and Endurance Exercise Sessions on Mobility, Quality of Life and Healthcare Utilisation for Frail Older Medical In-patients

Acronym: APEP

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jun 4, 2015
Registry last updated
Nov 17, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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