Randomized Trial of Assisted Ambulation to Improve Health Outcomes for Older Medical Inpatients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a randomized trial to study the effects of supervised walking, led by specially trained mobility technicians (MTs), on hospitalized medical patients aged 65 and older. The study aims to compare health outcomes and costs between patients receiving this assisted ambulation and those receiving usual care. It also seeks to identify which patients benefit most and assess the financial impact of the intervention over the hospital stay and 30 days afterward. Patients enrolled in the trial will be randomly assigned to either receive usual care or to have mobility technicians help them walk up to three times daily, every day including weekends, during their hospital stay for up to 10 days. The MTs will visit patients multiple times a day to encourage and assist with walking based on individual mobility scores and physical therapy recommendations, if available. All participants will wear wrist accelerometers to track their movement throughout their hospital stay. Participants will be closely monitored with various assessments including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) to measure mobility at discharge or after 10 days, and additional follow-ups at 30 days post enrollment to assess physical function, frailty, hospital complications, readmissions, and daily living activities. Researchers will also evaluate total costs related to the hospital stay and 30 days afterward. The study lasts up to 30 days per participant with ongoing safety and outcome monitoring.

Assisted Ambulation to Improve Health Outcomes for Older Medical Inpatients