Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Impact of a Bedside Activity Device on the Functional Status of Hospitalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled
Peijin Esther Monica Fan1, Joshua Kenneth Louis, Xin Yi Cindy Lim
1Peijin Esther Monica Fan , Joshua Kenneth Louis , Xin Yi Cindy Lim , Sarasuathi Gloria Encio Subramaniam , Jason Phil Seow , Fazila Aloweni , Darshini Devi Rajasegeran , and Shin Yuh Ang are nurses at Singapore General Hospital. Cheng Chia Hsiang is a physiotherapist, Shamala Thilarajah is a principal physiotherapist, and Hwee Kuan Ong is a senior principal physiotherapist at Singapore General Hospital. Nur Liyana Agus is the senior associate clinical research coordinator at Singapore General Hospital. Premarani Kannusamy is an associate professor at the National University of Singapore. This study was funded by a Singapore General Hospital Patient Safety Grant (FY18PSG008). The authors acknowledge Tan U-Xuan, PhD, and Yuen Chau, PhD, at Singapore University of Technology and Design for conceptualization of the bedside activity device. Contact author: Peijin Esther Monica Fan, esther.monica.fan.p.j@sgh.com.sg . The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Background:
Older adults may have difficulty maintaining their functional capabilities during hospitalization. This pilot study aimed to investigate the impact of a bedside activity device on the functional status of hospitalized older adults.
Methods:
For this single-site randomized controlled trial, 48 participants were recruited between July 2019 and March 2021. Participants were randomized into one of two groups: the intervention group, which was given the use of a bedside activity device plus standard care, and the control group, which received standard care. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (Katz ADL) scores and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test times were used as indicators of functional status and were collected on admission (baseline) and at discharge.Mann-Whitney U and χ 2 tests were used to test for baseline similarities between groups. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine within-group pre-post changes in TUG and Katz ADL scores. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine between-group differences in TUG and Katz ADL change scores.
Results:
Within-group pre-post analysis showed significant increases in Katz ADL scores in the intervention group and no significant changes in the control group. TUG times decreased significantly in the intervention group and increased significantly in the control group. Between-group analyses showed significant differences in both TUG and Katz ADL change scores.
Conclusion:
The use of the bedside activity device in addition to standard care may prevent functional decline and increase independence in performing basic ADLs.
