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Exploring in-hospital mobility practices for geriatric patients: insights from a mixed-method study
Lea Kromann Johansen1,2, Trine Schifter Larsen1,3, Jeanette Wassar Kirk1,4
1Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, Hvidovre, 2650, Denmark.
BMC Geriatrics
|May 13, 2025
Summary
Older hospitalized patients have very limited mobility, spending most of their time sedentary. Enhancing in-hospital mobility requires environmental changes and better integration into daily care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Practice
- Patient Mobility
Background:
- Limited mobility is a significant issue for older hospitalized patients, leading to adverse outcomes.
- Quantifying daily mobility levels and understanding clinical practices are crucial for improving care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure 24-hour mobility in acutely admitted older adults.
- To explore clinical practices related to patient mobilization and mobility using ethnographic methods.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach combining activity sensors (SENS motion®) and ethnographic observation.
- 44 geriatric patients wore sensors for 24-hour monitoring during hospitalization.
- Participant observation and interviews with staff, patients, and relatives were conducted.
Main Results:
- Patients averaged 22.8 hours of sedentary behavior daily, with only 1.2 hours of uptime (walking/standing).
- Daily walking averaged 43 minutes, with fewer than 1200 steps.
- Staff prioritize chair transfers and functional assessments over sustained patient mobility, which is further limited by the environment and lack of activities.
Conclusions:
- Geriatric inpatients exhibit significantly low mobility levels during hospitalization.
- Despite staff recognizing the importance of mobility, practical implementation is hindered by priorities and environmental factors.
- Improving in-hospital mobility necessitates environmental modifications, interprofessional collaboration, and integrating mobility into routine care.
