title: Safe-patient-handling equipment in therapy practice: implications for rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how safe-patient-handling (SPH) equipment is used in rehabilitation and how it affects therapists, patients, and therapy practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a qualitative, instrumental case study design. Thirty-five occupational and physical therapist practitioners from three facilities participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Therapists reported a broad range of applications for equipment (e.g., functional mobility and neuromusculoskeletal function). They reported that SPH equipment increased treatment options for therapists and increased participation options for patients, although equipment limitations exist. Three themes emerged from the analysis: choice, potential, and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPH equipment has therapeutic applications in rehabilitation, especially for medically complex or bariatric patients. Therapists in this study engaged in a highly individualized, complex process of decision making when selecting and using SPH devices in rehabilitation. More research to refine and test therapeutic uses is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences The Ohio State University, 453 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Darragh.6@osu.edu
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Darragh
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Lenore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pentico
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Margulis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004434:Early Ambulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016272:Occupational Health; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000295:instrumentation; D061214:Patient Safety; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000295:instrumentation*