Abstract
Background
University Hospital Southampton (UHS) partnered with Saints Foundation (SF), to test the feasibility and acceptability of a non-registered Exercise Practitioner (EP) to work alongside the therapy team to promote physical activity (PA) of hospitalised older people. Our aim was to collect trust level data to review the impact the EP had on outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination (DD) and identify and address any additional challenges that arose.
Methods
The EP delivered twice weekly gym-based group interventions as well as regular 1:1 rehabilitation and education sessions to hospitalised older patients. Interventions were ward based or within the acute therapy gym.
Results
Between June and August 2023 the EP reviewed 82 patients, mean age of 88 years. 15 (18%) patients underwent 1:1 rehabilitation whereas 67 (82%) patients underwent gym-based rehabilitation sessions. Median LOS for patients reviewed by the EP was 15 days compared with average departmental LOS of 8 days. 53 (65%) patients were able to either maintain or improve their predicted to actual discharge destination, compared with 10 (12%) patients whose physical capability declined. Of those remaining, 1 patient died and 18 others had not yet been discharged. High patient satisfaction levels continued to be reported.
Conclusion
Intervention by a non-registered EP appears to have an impact on patients’ ability to maintain or improve level of function and physical dependency during acute hospital stay. Factors such as outbreaks of infectious illness and staffing challenges prevented more frequent EP led intervention. Next steps include introducing daily class-based interventions. Participants will be encouraged to attend at least three classes. Anticipated benefits include improvement in patients’ functional levels and reductions in physical dependency on discharge. Additional data will be collected on fear of falling and confidence in function as well as uptake of post discharge activity and readmission.