A multidisciplinary methodology for the evaluation of products that assist with bed mobility

This article presents a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating products that assist with bed mobility. Following multidisciplinary risk assessments on 10 mattress elevators, 24 participants tested four different products for periods of up to 1 week. The participants, recruited by health professionals, were asked to test four different mattress elevators and, if possible, test each allocated product for a week at a time in their own home. The Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, a sitting balance assessment using a subscale of the motor assessment scale, and the Waterlow score were used to aid comparison of the products and their performance in practice. All products assisted with bed mobility, particularly lying-to-sitting and giving support in sitting. Technical and manual handling risk assessments were undertaken by a panel of experts in a laboratory on the products using a predetermined checklist. Guidelines for choosing these products were compiled from the results of both the risk assessments and the user evaluations.