The acceptability and accessibility of magnetic walking aids when used in hospital: a randomised trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the acceptability, accessibility, and safety of magnetic walking aids (MWAs) versus standard walking aids (SWAs) in inpatients following joint replacement.
Results Summary
Participants using MWAs reported better accessibility, higher adherence, and fewer drops (0.3 drops/day vs. 1.1 drops/day for SWAs). MWAs were suggested as a cost-effective way to improve walking aid compliance without adverse effects.
Population
Inpatients following hip or knee replacement surgery.
Effective Dosage
Not Assessed
Duration
Not Assessed
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | increase | accessibility | inpatients following joint replacement | - | was more easily accessible | #1 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | increase | walking aid use in their room | inpatients following joint replacement | - | were more likely to use | #2 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | decrease | walking aid drops | inpatients following joint replacement | 0.3 walking aid drops per day | dropped their aid less often | #3 |
standard walking aids (SWAs) | increase | walking aid drops | inpatients following joint replacement | 1.1 drops per day | dropped their aid more often | #4 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | increase | walking aid accessibility and adherence | - | - | may be an acceptable and inexpensive intervention for improving | #5 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | decrease | walking aid drops | - | - | reducing | #6 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | increase | walking aid compliance | - | - | may be a simple and cost effective way for improving | #7 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | no change | safety | in a controlled inpatient hospital environment | no adverse effects | may be safe to use | #8 |
magnetic walking aids (MWAs) | decrease | walking aid inadvertently comes to rest on the floor | patients post-operatively | - | may reduce the number of instances | #9 |
PURPOSE: Poor walking aid compliance and accessibility can put the user at an increased risk of falls. We explored the acceptability and accessibility of magnetic walking aids (MWAs) compared to standard walking aids (SWAs) in inpatients following joint replacement. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A non-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted. Inpatients following hip or knee replacement were randomly allocated to the MWA group ( RESULTS: The participants in the MWA group reported their aid was more easily accessible, and that they were more likely to use their aid in their room than participants in the SWA group. Participants in the MWA group dropped their aid less often, with a median of 0.3 walking aid drops per day in the MWA group and 1.1 drops per day in the SWA group ( CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot randomised trial suggest MWAs may be an acceptable and inexpensive intervention for improving walking aid accessibility and adherence and reducing walking aid drops when compared to SWAs. Magnetic walking aids may be a simple and cost effective way for improving walking aid compliance compared to standard walking aids.Walking aid adherence can be difficult to monitor within hospital and community settings.Magnetic walking aids may be safe to use in a controlled inpatient hospital environment with no adverse effects.Magnetic walking aids may reduce the number of instances a walking aid inadvertently comes to rest on the floor. This is of particular importance to patients post-operatively. For example, total hip replacements, where reaching to pick up an aid from the floor could lead to hip dislocation.