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Kegelmeyer D, Minarsch RS, Marita K, Hoffmeister A, Schnaterbeck G, Wohl TR, Gokun Y, Kloos A. Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs (STEPS): Assessing Stair Function in Older Adults. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2024:00139143-990000000-00049. [PMID: 38744442 DOI: 10.1519/jpt.0000000000000415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stair negotiation is crucial for functional independence and is a leading cause of fall-related injuries in older adults. The Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs (STEPS) is a quick and easily administered outcome measure for assessing stair negotiation. This study investigated the reliability and concurrent content validity of the STEPS test to determine its usefulness in older adults. METHODS Eighty-two community-dwelling older adults (mean age 81.2 years, 51 females) were assessed on the STEPS test, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 5-times sit to stand (5XSTS), stair self-efficacy (SSE) questionnaire, and time to ascend and descend stairs. Participants repeated the STEPS test 7 to 14 days later for intrarater reliability by the same rater. Spearman rank and intraclass correlations were used to determine the association of measures and intrarater reliability. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The mean STEPS score was 15.6 (SD = 3.7) out of 20. The STEPS total score demonstrated excellent intra- and interrater reliability. It had moderate to good and significant correlations with TUG, 5XSTS, SSE, and time to ascend and descend measures. Faster performance on the 5XSTS, TUG, and time to ascend and descend correlated with better performance on the STEPS test, indicating validity for assessing balance and mobility during stair negotiation in older adults. Lower SSE correlated with lower observer ratings of performance on stairs (STEPS scores), indicating agreement between participant reports of self-efficacy and observer ratings of performance. Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs items that demonstrated the most frequent loss of points were balance (use of handrail), step continuity, foot placement, and self-propulsion (ascent only). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of older adults' safety and performance on stairs is vital given the increased difficulty of stair navigation and the high risk for injurious falls in this population. This study demonstrates that the STEPS test is a reliable and valid outcome measure for assessing stair performance in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deb Kegelmeyer
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Raquel S Minarsch
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Division, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Katherine Marita
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Audrey Hoffmeister
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | | | - Timothy R Wohl
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Yevgeniya Gokun
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Anne Kloos
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Başıbüyük GÖ, Güler ZÖ, Kılıç B, Yaylagül NK, Ay F, Bekdaş O, Özgür Ö, Gültekin T. Designing ergonomic toilets and bathrooms for older adults: A study on anthropometric dimensions and recommendations. Geriatr Nurs 2024; 55:263-269. [PMID: 38091712 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the ergonomic design of toilets and bathroom equipment for older adults using anthropometric measurements. DESIGN This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS Data were collected from 2,721 people aged ≥ 65 years in Turkey. Fourteen anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Body dimension characteristics were described using minimum, maximum, and arithmetic means and standard deviations and the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles. RESULTS The measurements showed that companies generally do not design bathroom toilet equipment that is suitable for older adults. CONCLUSION This study provides advice to designers and manufacturers on how to adapt their products to the bathroom according to users' body characteristics in order to increase person-environment fit for older people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zümre Özdemir Güler
- Department of Economics, Söke Faculty of Management, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Barış Kılıç
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye.
| | | | - Faruk Ay
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Literature, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Türkiye
| | - Ozan Bekdaş
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Literature, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Türkiye
| | - Özlem Özgür
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Timur Gültekin
- Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
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Lee H, Lim JH. Living Alone, Environmental Hazards, and Falls Among U.S. Older Adults. Innov Aging 2023; 7:igad055. [PMID: 37583969 PMCID: PMC10424630 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Physical conditions of living environments can affect the incidence of falls; however, prior work has focused typically on 1 domain at a time-either neighborhood or home, capturing limited environmental boundaries of older adults. We examined how neighborhood together with the home environment affect the incidence of falls over time and whether living arrangement modifies the influence of the environmental risks on falls. Research Design and Methods Using the 2012-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 1,893), we fitted logistic regression to estimate the incidence of falls over an 8-year study period. We used the neighborhood and housing data that are collected systematically by trained observers in the HRS to assess environmental hazards. Sidewalk quality, neighborhood disorder, and the presence of green space were measured to capture outdoor environmental hazards. Indoor environmental hazards included the presence of housing decay and poorly maintained stairways. All models were stratified by living arrangement. Results Neighborhood and housing environment were independently associated with the odds of falls net of demographic characteristics and preexisting health conditions, and effects were significant for people living alone only. The presence of green space and poorly maintained stairways were associated with greater odds of falling, net of covariates during 8 years of follow-up (odds ratios = 2.10 and 2.65, p < .05, respectively). None of the environmental risk factors were significant for those living with others. Discussion and Implications Falls in old age may be determined in part by a combination of outdoor and indoor risk factors. More research is needed to understand pathways that lead to greater vulnerability among older adults living alone to environmental hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haena Lee
- Department of Sociology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Justin H Lim
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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Smadi O, Abu Alim MA, Masad IS, Almashaqbeh S. The Influence of Carrying Anterior Load on the Sagittal and Frontal Plane Kinematics of Lower Extremities during Stair Ascending. J Biomed Phys Eng 2021; 11:93-102. [PMID: 33564644 PMCID: PMC7859378 DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2007-1143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Background: Anterior load carriage is a one of the commonly performed activities in some industries. Stair climbing while carrying anterior load significantly alters different biomechanical mechanisms that can potentially affect the musculoskeletal function of the lower extremities. Objective: The study aims to assess the effect of carrying an anterior load (20% of body weight) on lower extremity kinematics during the kinematical phases of stairs ascent (weight acceptance, pull up, forward continuance, and swing phase). Material and Methods: In this experimental study, data were collected through the use of a custom made wooden staircase and OPtiTrack motion capture system was composed of 12 infrared cameras and a per modeled reflective marker set. Sixteen female college students volunteered to conduct two tasks of ascending stairs with and without an anterior load of approximately 20% of their body weight. The collected frontal and sagittal plane lower extremity joint angles were calculated using MATLAB software (version R2015a). Statistical comparison between the two study tasks was made using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 25.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Based on the results, there is significant difference (p-value < 0.05) between the two study tasks during ascending stair phases in all three sagittal plan lower extremity joint angles. Conclusion: Anterior load carried during stair ascent causes participants to depend more on the hip joint (higher flexion angles) compared to stair ascent without loads, which may increase the risk of falls and injuries, and the importance of muscle-strengthening activities and highlight the use of appropriate technique during load carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Smadi
- PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - M A Abu Alim
- PhD, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
| | - I S Masad
- PhD, Department of Biomedical Systems and Informatics Engineering, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
| | - S Almashaqbeh
- MSc, Department of Biomedical Systems and Informatics Engineering, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
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Stacey D, Ludwig C, Archambault P, Babulic K, Edwards N, Lavoie J, Sinha S, O’Connor AM. Feasibility of Rapidly Developing and Widely Disseminating Patient Decision Aids to Respond to Urgent Decisional Needs due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Med Decis Making 2021; 41:233-239. [PMID: 33300438 PMCID: PMC7879222 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x20979693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To meet urgent decisional needs of retirement/nursing home residents and their families, our interdisciplinary stakeholder team rapidly developed and disseminated patient decision aids (PtDAs) regarding leaving one's residence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The development steps were as follows: identify urgent decisional needs, develop PtDAs using the Ottawa Decision Support Framework template and minimal International PtDA Standards, obtain stakeholder feedback, broadly disseminate, and incorporate user feedback. Within 2 wk, we developed 2 PtDAs for retirement and nursing home living environments that were informed by decisional needs (identified from public responses to related media reports), current pandemic regulations/guidance, and recent systematic reviews. Within 3 wk of their dissemination (websites, international PtDA inventory, Twitter, Facebook, media interviews), the PtDAs were downloaded 10,000 times, and user feedback was positive. Our expert team showed feasible rapid development and wide dissemination of PtDAs to respond to urgent decisional needs. Development efficiencies included access to a well-tested theory-based PtDA template, recent evidence syntheses, and values-based public responses to media reports. Future research includes methods for rapidly collecting user feedback, facilitating implementation, and measuring use and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Stacey
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Claire Ludwig
- />University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- />Champlain LHIN, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick Archambault
- Centre de recherche du Centre intégré de santé et de services de santé de Chaudiére-Appalaches and Université Laval
| | | | | | - Josée Lavoie
- Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Yokoi K, Miyai N, Utsumi M, Hattori S, Kurasawa S, Hayakawa H, Uematsu Y, Arita M. Relationship between Fall History and Self-Perceived Motor Fitness in Community-Dwelling People: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9113649. [PMID: 33202806 PMCID: PMC7697988 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
History of falling is an important fall risk factor. If a relationship between fall history and self-perceived motor fitness could be established, then treating it as a correctable risk of re-fall due to falls may be possible. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the relationship between fall history and self-perceived motor fitness in daily life among 670 community-dwelling people (mean age 62.0 ± 9.6 years, 277 men and 393 women) who had participated in health examinations. They completed a self-administered questionnaire that asked about their history of single or multiple falls and included a 14-item motor fitness scale. The responses were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that in both younger and older (<65 years) subjects, a history of single or multiple falls was associated with a negative response to "being able to put on socks, pants or a skirt while standing without support". For subjects ≥65 years, an association was also observed with "shortness of breath when climbing stairs". Self-perceived motor fitness related to fall history can easily be noticed by an individual and may help them become aware of fall-related factors earlier in everyday life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsushi Yokoi
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 583-8555, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-729-50-2111
| | - Nobuyuki Miyai
- School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-0011, Japan; (N.M.); (S.H.); (H.H.); (Y.U.)
| | - Miyoko Utsumi
- Wakayama Faculty Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Wakayama 640-8269, Japan;
| | - Sonomi Hattori
- School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-0011, Japan; (N.M.); (S.H.); (H.H.); (Y.U.)
| | - Shigeki Kurasawa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Kashiwara 582-0026, Japan;
| | - Hiroko Hayakawa
- School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-0011, Japan; (N.M.); (S.H.); (H.H.); (Y.U.)
| | - Yuji Uematsu
- School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-0011, Japan; (N.M.); (S.H.); (H.H.); (Y.U.)
| | - Mikio Arita
- Sumiya Rehabilitation Hospital, Wakayama 640-8344, Japan;
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Li J, Goerlandt F, Li KW. Slip and Fall Incidents at Work: A Visual Analytics Analysis of the Research Domain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16244972. [PMID: 31817818 PMCID: PMC6950497 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16244972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Slip and fall incidents at work remain an important class of injury and fatality causing mechanisms. An extensive body of safety research has accumulated on this topic. This article presents an analysis of this research domain. Two bibliometric visualization tools are applied: VOSviewer and HistCite. Samples of 618 slip and fall related articles are obtained from the Web of Science database. Networks of institutions, authors, terms, and chronological citation relationships are established. Collaboration and research activities of the slip and fall research community show that most contributors are from the United States, with the (now closed) Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety the most influential research organization. The results of a term clustering analysis show that the slip and fall research can be grouped into three sub-domains: epidemiology, gait/biomechanics, and tribology. Of these, early research focused mainly on tribology, whereas research on gait/biomechanics and epidemiological studies are relatively more recent. Psychological aspects of slip and fall incident occurrence represent a relatively under-investigated research topic, in which future contributions may provide new insights and safety improvements. Better linking of this research domain with other principles and methods in safety science, such as safety management and resilience, may also present valuable future development paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Safety Science and Engineering, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Floris Goerlandt
- Dalhousie University, Department of Industrial Engineering, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2,UK
| | - Kai Way Li
- Department of Industrial Management, Chung Hua University, Hsin-Chu 30012, Taiwan
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