Effects of Activity Program in Prevention of Functional Decline Among Hospitalized Elderly: A Pilot Study

Purpose:

This pilot study was aimed to explore the effect of intervention to prevent functional decline in hospitalized elderly.

Methods:

A total of 15 elderly who were enrolled and randomized allocated into the control group (n=7) and the experimental group (n=8). Admitted in one of the medical center at southern Taiwan. Patients in the experimental group were intervened by accumulated 10~60 minutes walking daily from admission to one month after discharge. The walking plan was designed according to individual physical tolerance and personal preference. The outcome measures included activities of daily function measured by Modified Barthel index, hand grip strength, time up and go test, quality of life, discharge destination, hospital length of stay, 28-day readmission rate. 

Results:

The improvement in Modified Barthel index at one month after discharge was greater than 2 weeks before admittance in experimental group. The hand grip strength at discharge was greater in experimental group than in control group. The improvement in respect to time up and go test in experimental group was better than in control group (-4 8.0second vs -1.3 second).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the walking intervention is shown to be feasible and effective in preventing functional decline in elderly. We suggested that the walking intervention may implant into in clinical nursing care in the future.