Older adults' perceptions of wearable technology hip protectors: implications for further research and development strategies.
Alex Hall, Elisabeth Boulton, Emma Stanmore
PMID 30371132WHAT IT FOUND
Most participants thought the hip protector idea was good, but many said they would not wear it.
They worried about underwear style, visibility, dexterity, incontinence pads, mobile signal, and cost.
Key findings
01Participants often saw the hip protector as reassuring and helpful for confidence, but many said they would not wear it themselves.
02The accompanying underwear was a barrier because participants were negative about it and worried about embarrassment and compatibility with incontinence pads.
03The sensor system raised concerns because it depends on a mobile phone and was considered too expensive in the less affluent consultation sites.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a consultation about perceptions, not a trial of whether hip protectors prevent fractures or improve mobility. Some views came from group discussions, where strong voices or wanting to agree with the researchers could affect what was said. The largest community event did not record participants' age or gender. No care home residents or hospital inpatients were included, so it may not reflect those at highest risk. The company owner presented the product at an early consultation event, which could have made that session more favourable. No older adults at the smaller events owned a smartphone, so that group may not represent typical older adults.
Declared interests
Funded by the Medical Research Council's Proximity to Discovery Relationship Incubator. No competing interests are stated. The owner of the company that makes the hip protector presented the product at an early consultation event.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this paper as evidence that hip protectors prevent hip fractures or improve confidence. It reports older adults' perceptions of a new hip protector and sensor system, not effectiveness outcomes.