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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05926908

Hospital-Induced Immobility

Inactivity and bedrest during hospitalisation have numerous negative consequences, and it is especially important that older patients are mobile during hospitalisation. In this study the investigators aimed to identify whether the introduction of formal education of clinical staff and a Mobilisation Initiative could increase mobilisation of patients in a geriatric and a medical ward. Furthermore, the investigators wanted to explore patients' and health care staffs' view on facilitators and barriers for mobilisation during hospitalisation

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Key information

Conditions

In-hospital Mobility Behavior Geriatric Immobilization Sedentary Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, Denmark

About this study

Staying in bed and being inactive during hospitalisation can lead to a range of adverse consequences especially among older adults. The consequences include loss of muscle mass and strength leading to problems with loss of functional independence, risk of re-hospitalisation, and death. Moreover, older adults do not recover as well as younger adults with poor long-term recovery. The lack of in-hospital mobilisation is due to several factors including the hospital culture and organisational factors. Therefore, it is necessary to bring attention to this problem among the hospital staff. The aim of this study is to identify whether the introduction of formal education of clinical staff and a Mobilisation Initiative can increase the number of patients mobilised for breakfast and lunch among patients admitted to geriatric and medical wards. The activities planned in this study is self-reported level of mealtime mobilisation and observations of the patients, focus group interviews and survey on mobilisation awareness among the clinical staff, introduction of formal education and a Mobilisation Initiative. As hypothesized, this will result in an increased awareness of in-hospital mobilisation leading to an increase in the number of patients mobilised at mealtimes. Accordingly, expectations are that this will affect the activity level of the hospitalised patients and reduce adverse consequences leading to an increase in functional independence and reduce the number of readmissions resulting in a socioeconomic benefit.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • In-hospital patients in the geriatric and medical ward at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients declared moribund or delirious in the electronical medical journal
  • Patients isolated in the hospital room
  • Patients requiring interpreter for communication

Treatment and study plan

A Mobilisation Initiative

Behavioral

The Mobilisation Initiative consists of physiotherapists assisting nursing staff in mobilising patients to sit in a chair for breakfast and lunch. This intervention follows the interventions of focus group interviews, formal education, observations of patients and the environment, and awareness of mobilisation survey

Focus Group Interviews

Behavioral

Focus group interviews using a semi-structured interview guide are conducted with health care professionals at the wards to explore the acceptability and demand for the contents of the Mobilisation Initiative, including the identification of facilitators and barriers to mobilisation

Formal Education

Behavioral

Formal education for all nursing staff employed at the two wards includes information on the consequences of immobilisation, with the purpose of enhancing confidence, competencies, and awareness of mobilisation

Self-reported Level of Mobilisation

Behavioral

Patient's self-reported mealtime mobilisation level reported through interview-based surveys, including structured follow-up questions

Observations of Patients and the Environment

Behavioral

During breakfast and lunch, the mobilisation status of all patients in the wards is observed using an observation checklist

Awareness of Mobilisation Survey

Behavioral

To assess the nursing staff's awareness of and confidence in the mobilisation of the patients, a short survey on mobilisation awareness is distributed to the nursing staff at both wards

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in patients mobilised at lunch

    Time frame: One, two, three, four, five, and six months

    Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t0-t1 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t1-t2 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t2-t3 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t3-t4 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t4-t5 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at lunch t5-t6

  2. Change in patients mobilised at breakfast

    Time frame: One, two, three, four, five, and six months

    Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t0-t1 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t1-t2 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t2-t3 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t3-t4 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t4-t5 Change in percentage of patients mobilised at breakfast t5-t6

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in chairs present bedside at breakfast

    Time frame: Two, three, four, five, and six months

    Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at breakfast for each patient t1-t2 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at breakfast for each patient t2-t3 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at breakfast for each patient t3-t4 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at breakfast for each patient t4-t5 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at breakfast for each patient t5-t6

  2. Change in chairs present bedside at lunch

    Time frame: Two, three, four, five, and six months

    Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at lunch for each patient t1-t2 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at lunch for each patient t2-t3 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at lunch for each patient t3-t4 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at lunch for each patient t4-t5 Change in percentage of chairs observed placed bedside at lunch for each patient t5-t6

  3. Self-reported level of mobilisation

    Time frame: One and six months

    Level of patient's mealtime mobilisation level reported through interview-based surveys on a 5-item ordinal scale: independently, with supervision, with the physical help of one person, with the physical help of two persons, or never sit in a chair.

  4. The Mobilisation Initiative

    Time frame: One and six months

    The utilisation of the Mobilisation Initiative recorded as the daily number of patients referred to and mobilised in the Mobilisation Initiative at each ward

  5. Formal Education

    Time frame: Four and five months

    The number of nursing staff attending formal education

  6. Focus Group Interviews

    Time frame: Two months

    Description of facilitators and barriers for mobilising the patients at each ward

  7. Awareness of mobilisation among the nursing staff

    Time frame: Two months and follow up at eight months

    Levels of awareness on mobilisation among the nursing staff at each ward reported through questionnaires including the questions: "Do you feel confident mobilising your patients to sit in a chair at mealtimes?," "To what degree do you feel prepared to do a safe transfer from the bed to a chair with a patient you do not know?," and "How often do you talk to your colleagues about mobilisation?". Questions are answered on 5-item Likert scales: never, less than half of the time, half of the time, more than half of the time, and every time; and to a very low degree, to a low degree, neither/nor, to a high degree, and to a very high degree

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Hospital-Induced Immobility - A Backstage Story of Lack of Chairs, Time, and Assistance

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jul 3, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 6, 2025

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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