How to Assess Residents’ Posture: The HARP Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the validity, reliability and acceptability of the Seated Postural Assessment Tool (PAT) for older people with restricted mobility in care homes
IRAS ID
261619
Contact name
Liz Graham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Frail residents of care homes spend a lot of time sedentary (i.e. sitting). Ensuring that residents are in the best positions in appropriate seats will enhance care (e.g. eating, drinking), reduce pain, and may impact on agitation for those with dementia. A simple visual tool that is quick and easy for care staff to use to check a person’s posture and seating will help educate staff and increase awareness, so influencing the health and well-being of residents. It will also be a useful research assessment. \n\nWe have designed a short Postural Assessment Tool (PAT), to be used by non-experts (e.g. care staff) to record the sitting posture of residents with restricted mobility. In this study we aim to refine the PAT and determine that it is valid (it measures what we want it to) and reliable (its results are not dependent on the person using it).\n\nWe will ask physiotherapists, who have expertise in assessment of posture, their opinion of the existing PAT and agree on any changes we need to make to its content and the way it is laid out. Then experts (physiotherapists) will assess participating residents’ posture, as they would do in their usual practice, at the same time as a non-expert trained in using the PAT will complete the PAT. Their assessments will be compared to see if they are the same (PAT is valid).\n\nTo assess reliability of the PAT, pairs of trained care staff will complete the assessment by observing a number of residents’ sitting postures. Both staff members in each pair will assess the same resident’s seated posture at the same time. Their scores will be compared to check that the tool is reliable.\n\nThroughout this process we will seek the opinions of physiotherapists, residents and carers to ensure the PAT is acceptable to them.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0145
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion