title: Activity level of hospital medical inpatients: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the activity level of people admitted for an acute hospital medical admission and to describe the location of and people present at the activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational behavioral mapping study.
  
  
  METHODS
  102 patients admitted to general medical wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were observed 1min every 10min during a working day from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Highest level of activity was recorded; location, activity and person/s attending the participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 76 participants were analyzed; mean age 67 (SD 19) years, 38 (50%) male. Participants were observed for 450min. They spent 394 (88%) min in their rooms, 18 (4%) min in the bathroom and 27 (6%) min off the ward. Of the time in their rooms, participants spent a median 315 (IQR 205-398) min lying in bed, 10 (IQR 0-38) min sitting on or out of bed and 1 (IQR 0-20) min standing or walking. Participants spent a median 115 (IQR 70-158) min doing nothing, 80 (IQR 43-160) min resting or sleeping and 75 (IQR 40-168) min talking, reading or watching television. Participants were alone 280 (IQR 230-340) min and with one person 90 (IQR 50-130) min. Participants were with staff a median 120 (IQR 73-180) min; nurses 35 (IQR 20-60) min, medical staff 10 (IQR 0-18) min and allied health staff 10 (IQR 0-20) min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People admitted to general medical wards are inactive during hospital stay; spending the majority of the working day in their rooms, in bed and alone.
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Collaborative, Metro North (Northern) Health Service District, Brisbane, Australia. Suzanne_kuys@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Suzanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kuys
authors.forename: Urszula E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Dolecka
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guard
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies