Grip Strength Routine Implementation (GRImP)

NCT02447445 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: RHM MED1250
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Hand grip strength (GS) is a non-invasive marker of whole body skeletal muscle strength and function used in research and recommended as a simple inexpensive measure suitable for clinical use. Research has shown that low GS in hospital inpatients is associated with poor healthcare outcomes including increased postoperative complications, longer length of stay, increased functional limitations and disability. Measuring GS on admission to hospital has the potential to identify people at risk of poor healthcare outcomes allowing early intervention including focus on nutrition and mobility. Yet, GS measurement is not routinely used in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation of GS measurement into routine clinical practice in Medicine for Older People wards at UHS.

Conditions

Frail Elderly, Inpatients

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The feasibility and acceptability of routine implementation of grip strength assessment in older patients

  is it feasible to implement grip strength assessment routinely in Medicine for Older People (MOP) wards ? This will be determined by recording the proportion of older inpatients admitted to MOP wards who had their grip strength been measured and the percentage among them with low grip strength levels. The acceptability of routine implementation of grip strength will be assessed through qualitative method (interviews and focus groups) with older inpatients, medical staff, nursing staff, therapy and dietetic teams.

  6-9 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The proportion of referrals to dietetic teams and the proportion of nutritional supplements prescriptions

  After 3 months of routine implementation of grip strength

• Costs of implementing grip strength assessment routinely in MOP

  9-12 months

Study Arms (1)

Older inpatient at MOP

The group includes older patients who are admitted to one of the Medicine for Older Patients (MOP) wards. Grip strength will be part of the routine assessment of older patient when admitted to MOP.

Procedure: Grip strength assessment

Interventions

Grip strength assessment PROCEDURE

Grip strength will be measured by the ward nurse using a Jamar dynamometer by asking the patient to squeeze with each hand twice, starting with the right hand using the standardised protocol The maximum GS measurement will be recorded. Patients who have low maximum GS values (men \< 27 kg and women \<16 kg) or those who are unable to perform the test will receive a care plan. The care plan will focus on review of dietary energy and protein intake and any need for oral nutritional supplements or dietetic review, and review of mobility with any need for physiotherapy review with regard to progressive resistance exercises to increase muscle strength.

Older inpatient at MOP

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 80 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Grip strength of older patients admitted to the MOP will be measured by a ward nurse.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust: lead
• National Institute for Health Research, United Kingdom: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Southampton Genral Hospital

Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Ibrahim K, May CR, Patel HP, Baxter M, Sayer AA, Roberts HC. Implementation of grip strength measurement in medicine for older people wards as part of routine admission assessment: identifying facilitators and barriers using a theory-led intervention. BMC Geriatr. 2018 Mar 22;18(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12877-018-0768-5.

  PMID: 29566673 DERIVED

Related Links

• study protocol
• the study main findings

Study Officials

• Helen Roberts, PhD

  University General Southampton UHS

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 14, 2015
• First Posted: May 18, 2015
• Study Start: July 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2016
• Study Completion: January 1, 2017
• Last Updated: April 19, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-04

Locations

GB (1)