Hip protectors: Results of a user survey

Introduction: Hip fracture has the greatest personal and economic impact of all fall-related injuries in the elderly population. External hip protectors have been developed and have been effective in reducing the incidence of hip fracture in one study. Their level of effectiveness, however, is influenced significantly by whether people will wear them. Objectives: To ascertain, from the users of hip protectors, their experiences with the garments and their attitudes towards them. Method: A postal self-report questionnaire was sent to all purchasers (n=82) of hip protectors from the Hip Protector Project Office at Hornsby Ku- ring-gal Hospital from June 1996 to March 1997. Results: The response rate was 55%. The majority (71%) of users wore the hip protectors at all times during the day. Eleven per cent of all users had fallen while wearing the protectors. Most responders found hip protectors comfortable and acceptable to wear and believed that they were effective. Problems identified included difficulty in wearing the garment if suffering from incontinence or from a weakness in the upper limbs. The cost of the hip protectors was also identified as an important issue. Conclusions: A positive attitude overall towards the garment was demonstrated. However, more formal user testing needs to be conducted in order to clarify recommendations for people with incontinence, and for those who have difficulty pulling the garment dawn for toileting.