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Background and Purpose: Falls are the leading reason for Injury-related emergency department (ED) visits for older adults. The Geriatric Acute and Post-acute Fall Prevention Intervention (GAPcare), an in-ED intervention combining a medication therapy management session delivered by a pharmacist and a fall risk assessment and plan by a physical therapist, reduced ED revisits at 6 months among older adults presenting after a fall. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between measures of function obtained in the ED and clinical outcomes. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from GAPcare, a randomized controlled trial conducted from January 2018 to October 2019 at 2 urban academic EDs. Standardized measures of function (Timed Up and Go [TUG] test, Barthel Activity of Daily Living Index [ADL], Activity Measure for Post Acute Care [AM-PAC] 6 clicks) were collected at the ED index visit. We performed a descriptive analysis and hypothesis testing (chi square test and analysis of variance) to assess the relationship of functional measures with outcomes (ED disposition, ED revisits for falls, and place of residence at 6 months). Emergency department disposition status refers to dis- charge location immediately after the ED evaluation is complete (eg, hospital admission, original residence, skilled nursing facility). Results and Discussion: Among 110 participants, 55 were randomized to the GAPcare intervention and 55 received usual care. Of those randomized to the intervention, 46 received physical therapy consultation. Median age was 81 years; participants were predominantly women (67%) and White (94%). Seventy-three (66%) were discharged to their original residence, 14 (13%) were discharged to a skilled nursing facility and 22 (20%) were admitted. There was no difference in ED disposition status by index visit Barthel ADLs (P = .371); however, TUG times were faster (P = .016), and AM-PAC 6 clicks score was higher among participants dis-charged to their original residence (P ≤ .001). Participants with slower TUG times at the index ED visit were more likely to reside in nursing homes by six months (P = .002), while Barthel ADL and AM-PAC 6 clicks did not differ between those residing at home and other settings. Conclusions: Measures of function collected at the index ED visit, such as the AM-PAC 6 clicks and TUG time, may be helpful at predicting clinical outcomes for older adults presenting for a fall. Based on our study findings, we suggest a novel workflow to guide the use of these clinical measures for ED patients with falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factors associated with upper limb prosthesis adoption are not well understood. In this study, we explored how prosthesis usability experience relates to the extent of prosthesis adoption through the development of a structural equation model (SEM). First, items related to prosthesis usability were developed and refined using cognitive testing and pilot testing and employed in a survey of 402 prosthesis users (mean age 61.7 (sd 14.4), 77.1% Veterans). The SEM examined two unidimensional latent constructs: Prosthesis Usability Experience and Prosthesis Adoption–and each had multiple measured indicators. SEMs tested direct as well as moderating and mediating effects between the latent constructs and covariates related to demographics and prosthesis type. SEM found a significant positive association between Prosthesis Usability Experience and Extent of Prosthesis Adoption. Several covariates had direct effects on prosthesis adoption: 1) Extent of Prosthesis Adoption was lower for those with transhumeral and shoulder amputation, and higher for those with bilateral amputation, compared to the reference group with unilateral transradial amputation and 2) Myoelectric multiple degree of freedom (multi-DOF) prosthesis use was associated with lower Extent of Prosthesis Adoption, compared to body-powered prosthesis use. Myoelectric multi-DOF use also modified the effect of Prosthesis Usability Experience on Extent of Prosthesis Adoption. For those with bilateral ULA, the strength of the relationship between Prosthesis Usability Experience and Extent of Prosthesis Adoption was reduced. Findings suggest that in order to increase prosthesis adoption, prosthetics developers and rehabilitation providers should focus on implementing strategies to improve prosthesis usability experience. New Prosthesis Usability Experience measures could be used to identify persons at greater risk for poor prosthesis adoption and target interventions to increase prosthesis use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: No prior studies have examined the prevalence of unmet prosthesis need among prosthesis nonusers. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of unmet need for an upper-limb prosthesis and identify independent covariates associated with unmet need for a prosthesis. Study Design: This study is a telephone survey of 742 persons with upper-limb amputation (ULA). Methods: Differences between users and nonusers and between nonusers with and without an unmet need were compared statistically. Covariates associated with unmet need P ≤ 0.2 in bivariate analyses were included in a multivariate logistic regression model predicting unmet need. Results: Odds of unmet need were higher for those who stopped using a prosthesis within the past year compared with 20 years or more ago (odds ratio [OR], 4.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28–14.51) and those on disability (OR, 4.01; 95% CI, 0.95–16.85). Odds of unmet need were lower for those with higher upper-limb function scores (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.96–1.00), who were unemployed versus employed/student (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02–0.98), and those who had abandoned a prior prosthesis because it was "too much fuss" (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.18–0.92). Conclusions: Unmet need was prevalent, impacting approximately 50% of persons with upper-limb amputation who were not using a device and 14% who reported never having used a prosthesis. Independent correlates of greater unmet included worse upper-limb function, prosthesis use within the prior year, and disability status. Correlates of lesser unmet need included being unemployed and having abandoned a prosthesis because it was perceived as an undue burden. Further studies are needed to understand barriers to prosthesis use among nonusers with an unmet need. Clinical Relevance: Persons with ULA who do not use a prosthesis should be reevaluated regularly to identify unmet needs. Our findings suggest recent prosthesis users, those with poorer upper-limb function, and those who are employed or on disability are more likely to have unmet needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a self-report measure of activity performance for upper limb prosthesis users that quantifies outcomes by level of amputation and prosthesis type. Telephone survey of 423 adults with major upper limb amputation (ULA) who used a prosthesis. Item generation, cognitive, and pilot testing were followed by field testing. Items were categorized as one- or two-handed. Factor and Rasch analyses evaluated unidimensionality, monotonicity, item fit, differential item functioning (DIF), and reliability. Test–retest reliability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Known group validity was assessed with ANOVAs. Respondents with unilateral ULA utilized prosthesis for 24% of unilateral and 38% of bilateral tasks. Those with bilateral ULA utilized prostheses for 64% of unilateral and 46% of bilateral tasks. Factor analyses identified a One-handed Task factor (CFI = 0.963, TLI = 0.950, and RMSEA = 0.064) and a Two-Handed Task factor (CFI = 0.958, TLI = 0.953, and RMSEA = 0.053). Response categories were collapsed to address monotonicity. After DIF adjustment, person reliability was 0.49 and 0.82 for One-handed and Two-handed Task scales, respectively, and ICCs were 0.88 and 0.91. Both scales differed by amputation level (p < 0.001). The Upper Extremity Functional Scale for Prosthesis Users (UEFS-P) measure of upper limb function of prosthesis users has promising psychometric properties. Measurement of upper limb function in persons with amputation is challenging, given currently available measures which do not explicitly grade activity performance with a prosthesis. The Upper Extremity Functional Scale for Prosthesis Users (UEFS-P) builds upon the original Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey (OPUS) UEFS Scale with modified instructions, a revised item set, response categories and scoring algorithm. The UEFS-P consists of two unidimensional scales, the One-handed Tasks scale and the Two-handed Tasks scale. The UEFS-P scales have clear advantages over existing self-report measures of upper limb function that ask about difficulty with performing functional activities without accounting for prosthesis use, and do not differentiate persons who use and do not use a prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this research is to investigate whether home accommodations influence the amount of human help provided to a nationally representative sample of adults who use wheelchairs. Design and Methods: We analyzed data from the Adult Disability Follow-back Survey (DFS), Phase II, of the Disability Supplement to the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS-D). The analytic sample consisted of 899 adults aged 18 and older who reported using wheelchairs in the previous 2 weeks. We conducted logistic regression and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses to test the influence of home accommodations on the receipt of any human help, and among respondents who received help, on the hours of help received, respectively. We analyzed paid and unpaid help separately. Results: Home accommodations were related to the receipt of unpaid, but not paid, help. Relative to having no home accommodations, the presence of each additional accommodation decreased the odds of having unpaid help by 14% (OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.76, 0.97). Additionally, we observed an inverse relationship between the number of accommodations in the home and hours of unpaid help (p less than 0.01). For wheelchair users who live alone, specific types of home accommodations were also inversely related to hours of unpaid help. Implications: Policies that reimburse for home accommodations may be an efficient response to the growing demand for home-care support while enabling greater autonomy and independence for people who use wheelchairs. (Contains 5 tables.)