[Compliance concerning external protectors for hip fractures among the institutionalized elderly in Japan]

An external protector (EHP) which was developed in Europe to protect the femoral neck from direct impact on falling is available but has not been examined sufficiently in Japan. In order to explore the compliance of use of the EHP among the institutionalized elderly with in case of hip fracture who are at high risk of falling, we conducted the four-week intervention study using two types of a EHP. The subjects of a study consisted of 10 elderly people (2 men, 8 women) with a mean age 85.7 living in nursing home in a village. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. At the end of the study, rate of subjects who wore EHP was relatively high for the Finnish EHP (Safety Pants) group compared to the Danish EHP (Hip Protector) group. There were no significant differences between variables in age, sex, fall experience during the previous year, history of diseases etc. The reasons for dropout were first: difficult in wearing EHP and accompanying delay in toilet, secondly: taking much time to wear, thirdly: a sense of incongruity, too small or too tight'. If the EHP is redesigned to suit Japanese elderly, the compliance might increase. Thorough explanation to institutionalized elderly who may have cognitive impairment, physical problems, or both, is required.