Appropriate seating for medical patients: an audit

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Facility Design
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Adequate patient seating is crucial for mobility and well-being in hospital settings.
• Current hospital furniture may not meet the specific needs of diverse patient populations, particularly older adults.
• Assessing the suitability of patient chairs is essential for maintaining functional independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the availability and types of patient chairs in medical wards.
• To establish minimum standards for appropriate patient seating.
• To evaluate the suitability of existing chairs for admitted patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive audit of chairs in medical wards of a tertiary referral hospital.
• Photographic documentation and enumeration of all patient-use chairs.
• Expert panel determination of minimum seating criteria (functional, safety, ergonomic, infection control, usability).

Main Results:

• 270 chairs of 36 types were identified; 231 (85%) did not meet minimum criteria.
• Only 39 chairs met the established standards for patient use.
• 113 patients (66%) were unable to sit out of bed, potentially due to inadequate seating.

Conclusions:

• The study revealed a significant deficit in appropriate patient chairs within the facility.
• Insufficient suitable seating poses risks to patient functional ability, particularly for the elderly.
• Recommendations for improving patient chair availability and suitability are warranted.