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Snapshot of Fall Prevention in Patients Referred to a Neurorehabilitation Unit: A Feasibility Study on the Use of an Airbag Device

Authors :
Laura Comini
Adriana Olivares
Lucia Marchina
Adrian Suruniuc
Fabio Vanoglio
Gian Pietro Bonometti
Alberto Luisa
Giacomo Corica
Source :
Sensors, Vol 24, Iss 19, p 6272 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Active wearable devices such as protective smart belts have been proposed to reduce hip impact in the event of a fall. This study primarily evaluated the feasibility and acceptance of a specific protective belt among selected patients identified as being at risk of falling who were admitted to an ICS Maugeri Neurorehabilitation Unit from September 2022 to April 2023. According to previous institutional observations, the device was worn between the 6th and 21st days of recovery. Out of 435 admitted patients, 118 were considered eligible, but 101 declined to participate (about 50% refused to wear the belt without first trying it on; the other 50% found it too heavy or difficult to manage). Among the 17 patients who accepted (users), 9 used the belt correctly. The remaining eight patients refused to wear it after 24 h, due to discomfort. Out of 435 patients admitted, we observed at least one fall in 49 patients, of whom 5 were eligible patients; 1 was a user who had quickly refused to use the belt and fell with mild damage. Two non-eligible patients and one eligible non-user patient experienced falls resulting in hip fractures; only in the latter case could the use of the belt have limited the damage to the hip. Difficulties in recruiting patients and low acceptance of the proposed intervention present further challenges.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14248220
Volume :
24
Issue :
19
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Sensors
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.65fae2560319439eb60ade6a38d4ae34
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24196272