Joddrell, P. orcid.org/0000-0002-8210-6508, Potter, S., de Witte, L.P. orcid.org/0000-0002-3013-2640 et al. (1 more author) (2021) Continuous in-home walking speed monitoring in older people with a low-cost ambient sensor: Results of a feasibility study. Technology and Disability, 33 (2). pp. 77-85. ISSN 1055-4181
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Walking speed predicts important clinical outcomes in older adults and is one of the most significant indicators of frailty. OBJECTIVE: To test whether it is feasible to measure walking speed frequently and unobtrusively in the home. METHODS: A longitudinal feasibility study was conducted comprising the installation and monitoring of continuous measurement walking speed sensors in twenty frail older adults’ homes for a period of twelve weeks (eighteen participants completed the study). Manual walking speed, frailty level and health status were measured at four-weekly intervals. Qualitative interviews were conducted at the end of the study to assess participants’ attitudes to the sensors and to the concept of continuous in-home walking speed measurement. RESULTS: There was a high degree of variance to the number of walking speed measurements recorded by each participant’s sensor (median 1942.39, range 2-3617). Participants indicated acceptability of both the sensor within the home and the concept of in-home walking speed measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Where regular measurement was achieved, the results indicate that walking speed might be better viewed as a distribution rather than a single figure, taking into account the natural variation to walking speed in daily life. This study demonstrates the feasibility of continuous ambient in-home walking speed monitoring of older adults with a low-cost, easily deployed device.
Metadata
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The Author(s). This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Technology and Disability. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. | ||||
Keywords: | Walking speed; digital health technology; health monitoring; frailty; older people | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield | ||||
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research | ||||
Funding Information: |
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Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield | ||||
Date Deposited: | 29 Mar 2021 10:21 | ||||
Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2022 11:11 | ||||
Status: | Published | ||||
Publisher: | IOS Press | ||||
Refereed: | Yes | ||||
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.3233/tad-200316 |