title: Poor mobility in hospitalized adults of all ages.
abstract: Low levels of activity in hospital inpatients contribute to functional decline. Previous studies have shown low levels of activity in older inpatients, but few have investigated younger inpatients (aged <65 years). This observational study measured activity in older (aged ≥65 years) and younger hospital inpatients on 3 wards (medical, surgical, oncology) in a major teaching hospital in Brisbane, Australia, as part of a quality-improvement intervention to enhance mobility. Using structured behavioral mapping protocols, participants were observed for 2-minute intervals throughout 4, 4-hour daytime observation periods. The proportion of time spent at different activity levels was calculated for each participant, and time spent standing, walking or wheeling was compared between age group and wards. There were 3272 observations collected on 132 participants (median, 30 per patient; range, 9-35). The most time was spent lying in bed (mean 57%), with 9% standing or walking. There were significant differences among wards, but no difference between older and younger subgroups. Low mobility is common in adult inpatients of all ages. Behavioral mapping provided measures suitable for use in quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Aged Care, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0242-2165
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mudge
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Safety and Quality Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Prue
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirstie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hitchen
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruickshank
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Griffith Health Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuys
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology