Rationale: The number of older adults is increasing worldwide. Consequently, more older adults are admitted to hospitals, in need for more complex health care. After acute hospitalization older adults experience problems such as functional decline, readmission to hospital or death. Currently there is no information or consensus on what constitutes an optimal physio-therapeutic exercise intervention for acutely hospitalized older adults after discharge from the hospital.
Objective: The aim of this study is to find consensus on i) which measurement tools are recommended to measure physical functioning and diagnostics; and ii) what factors constitute a physiotherapy-based exercise intervention program (regarding the FITT criteria – Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type); for acutely hospitalized older adults who are discharged from hospital.
Study design: Consensus study following Delphi procedure.
Study population: A scoping review will be performed to formulate statements, to review articles with focus on measurement tools and possible interventions for acutely hospitalized older adults. The statements following the scoping review will be presented and ranked by an international expert panel. The panel consists of an international group of physiotherapists and health care professionals who have experience working with acutely hospitalized older adults during and after discharge.
Main study parameters/endpoints: The consensus statements will be used to describe and specify measurement tools and an optimal physiotherapy-based exercise intervention for acutely hospitalized older adults, after discharge from the hospital to their home environment (not nursing home or rehabilitation setting). These statements will be used as a starting point in developing and providing a physiotherapy-based exercise intervention within this specific population.
J.J. Aarden, MSc / PhD candidate department of rehabilitation Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
C. Aghina, BSc / MSc candidate Utrecht University
M. E. Major, MSc / PhD candidate department of rehabilitation Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
M. van der Esch, PhD at Reade centre for rehabilitation Amsterdam
Prof. dr. B.M. Buurman department of Medicine, section of Geriatrics, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
Prof. dr. R.H.H. Engelbert, department of rehabilitation Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
M. van der Schaaf, PhD, department of rehabilitation Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
on behalf of the Hospital ADL study group.
Disease Category: Health care of older people, Rehabilitation
Disease Name: N/A
Age Range: 70 - 100
Sex: Either
Nature of Intervention: Exercise, Physical, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation
- Clinical experts
- Consumers (patients)
- Researchers
- Recommendations for outcome measures (measurement/how)
- Systematic review of outcome measures/measurement instruments
- COS for practice
- Delphi process
- Literature review
A Delphi study will be conducted. Panelists will be included based on the relevant fields of expertise, publication record and clinical experience. A scoping literature review is the basis of the first round of the Delphi study to generate ideas. Based on the the first round, statements will be drafted and ranked on a Likert scale with the objective to reach consensus.