title: Compliance of external hip protector use amongst elderly day hospital attenders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When worn external Hip Protectors (EHP) reduce hip fracture but poor compliance results in reduced efficacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined the compliance with EHP therapy among a group of elderly people attending a day hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients or their care-givers were interviewed a mean (sd) 334 (150) days after they had been given EHP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 12 men and 33 women with mean age of 80 (7) years. Only ten (22%) were still wearing EHP properly. Those who were compliant were given their EHP more recently than those who were not (277 (118) days vs 403 (159), p = 0.0062) and were more likely to feel safer when wearing them (p = 00.017, chi2= 5.68). Reasons for non-compliance included exclusive outdoor wear, discomfort and inconvenience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hip protector compliance was poor in this small study of elderly individuals attending a day hospital. Better patient education may improve compliance though this needs to be determined.
authors.affiliation: St James's Hospital, Dublin. cfan@stjames.ie
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors