Assessment of Usability and Task Load Demand Using a Robot-Assisted Transfer Device Compared With a Hoyer Advance for Dependent Wheelchair Transfers.
Mark Greenhalgh, James Matthew Landis, Joshua Brown and 8 others
PMID 31318755WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers rated the robot-assisted transfer device as safer for themselves and less physically demanding than the Hoyer lift when moving a mannequin between a wheelchair, toilet, tub chair, and clinic bench.
Key findings
01Caregivers using the Strong Arm reported better caregiver safety, reduced transfer-related fatigue, and less physical discomfort than with the Hoyer Advance across toilet, tub chair, and clinic bench transfers.
02Task load was lower with the Strong Arm for physical demand at all three transfer stations, and total demand was lower at the accessible toilet and tub chair.
03Although the Strong Arm reduced physical demand at all stations, it was rated more mentally demanding than the Hoyer Advance at the clinic bench.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience group of 21 caregivers and was not described as representative of all health care professionals. Transfers were done with a 56 kg mannequin, not with actual wheelchair users, so the study reports caregiver effort and device usability, not patient outcomes. The USAT questionnaire is not reported to have reliability or validity information. Participants had general transfer experience, not necessarily Hoyer Advance expertise. The device had hardware and software problems, and three participants had to return for testing. Caregivers raised concerns about joystick positioning contacting the mannequin's forehead.
Declared interests
No conflict-of-interest or funding declaration is provided in the supplied article text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the Strong Arm reduces caregiver injury or improves patient transfers. It was tested only with a 56 kg mannequin and caregiver usability surveys, not with patients or injury outcomes.