Search

BACKGROUND: Hospital‐acquired disability (HAD) is common and often related to low physical activity while in the hospital. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether wearable hospital activity trackers can be used to predict HAD. DESIGN: A prospective observational study between January 2016 and March 2017. SETTING: An academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Community‐dwelling older adults, aged 60 years or older, enrolled within 24 hours of admission to general medicine (n = 46). MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcome was HAD, defined as having one or more new activity of daily living deficits, decline of four or greater on the Late‐Life Function and Disability Instrument (calculated between baseline and discharge), or discharge to a skilled nursing facility. Hospital activity (mean active time, mean sedentary time, and mean step counts per day) was measured using ankle‐mounted accelerometers. The association of the literature‐based threshold of 900 steps/day with HAD was also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.2 years (SD = 9.5 years), 48% were male, and 76% were white. Median length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 2.0‐6.0 days); 61% (n = 28) reported being able to walk without assistance of another person or walking aid at baseline. Median daily activity time and step counts were 1.1 h/d (IQR = 0.7‐1.7 h/d) and 1455.7 steps/day (IQR = 908.5‐2643 steps/day), respectively. Those with HAD (41%; n = 19) had lower activity time (0.8 vs 1.4 h/d; P =.04) and fewer step counts (1186 vs 1808 steps/day; P =.04), but no difference in sedentary time, compared to those without HAD. The 900 steps/day threshold had poor sensitivity (40%) and high specificity (85%) for detecting HAD. CONCLUSIONS: Low hospital physical activity, as measured by wearable accelerometers, is associated with HAD. Clinicians can utilize wearable technology data to refer patients to physical/occupational therapy services or other mobility interventions, like walking programs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:261–265, 2020 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: The aims of this study were to (a) describe the information provided in author guidelines in nursing journals, (b) assess the completeness of this information, and (c) identify the extent and types of reporting guidelines used in nursing journals. Design: Content analysis of author guidelines for 245 nursing journals included in the Directory of Nursing Journals maintained at the International Academy of Nursing Editors website. Methods: Using Research Electronic Data Capture, data on 19 criteria for completeness were extracted from published author guidelines. Additional details about journal requirements, such as allowed length of manuscripts and format for the abstract, were also recorded. Reliability was established by simultaneous review of 25 journals (10%) by the research assistant and a senior member of the research team. Findings: Author guidelines were easily accessible at journal websites or through links to download the information. A majority (73.5%) had completeness scores of 75% or higher; six journals had guidelines that were 100% complete. Half of the journals used the American Psychological Association reference style, and 26.3% used the American Medical Association style. Less than one fourth had stated requirements to use reporting guidelines such as Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). Conclusions: Author guidelines for nursing journals are generally complete and informative. Although specific reporting guidelines such as CONSORT and PRISMA improve the accuracy and completeness of manuscripts on various types of studies, most nursing journals do not indicate use of these for manuscript preparation. Editors who want to improve their author guidelines should use the 19 criteria for completeness as a gauge for updating and revision. Clinical Relevance: Nurses rely on the published literature to inform their practice and ensure that it is based on evidence. Guidelines for publishing in the scholarly literature assist clinicians and scholars to ensure that published articles are complete, current, concise, and accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]