Background
Objectives
Methods
Participants
Study design
Outcome measures
Frailty
Acceptability evaluation
Acceptability domain | Statement |
---|---|
Affective attitude | I enjoyed participating in this test |
Burden | Minimal effort was required to complete this test |
Ethicality | This test was unobtrusive |
Coherence | I understand how this test works and its importance |
Opportunity costs | This test was not time-consuming |
Perceived effectiveness | This test is likely to have a positive impact on patients |
Self-efficacy | I felt confident that I could complete this test |
Statistical analysis
Qualitative analysis
Public involvement
Results
Study population (N = 40) | ||
---|---|---|
Age – mean (SD) | 78.1 (6.3) | |
Sex – % females (N) | 47.5 (19) | |
Ethnicity | White British or White Irish – % (N) | 95.0 (38) |
Indian – % (N) | 5.0 (2) | |
Phenotypic frailty at follow-up – % frail (N) | 57.5 (23) | |
Gait speed – mean (SD) | 0.67 (0.28) | |
Handgrip strength – mean (SD) | Males | 25.8 (10.8) |
Females | 16.9 (8.0) |
Quantitative results
Median (IQR) | p-value (one sample) | p-value (groups) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | ||||
Handgrip strength (N = 40) | 33 (30–35) | 0.001 | 0.166 | |
Gait speed (N = 40) | 32 (30–35) | 0.002 | ||
Ultrasound quadriceps (N = 40) | 33 (31–35) | 0.001 | ||
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (N = 36) | 33.5 (31–35) | 0.001 | ||
Frailty | ||||
Handgrip strength | Frail (N = 23) | 33 (30–33) | 0.052 | 0.396 |
Non-frail (N = 17) | 34 (30–35) | 0.030 | ||
Gait speed | Frail (N = 23) | 32 (28–32) | 0.031 | 0.242 |
Non-frail (N = 17) | 34 (31–35) | 0.019 | ||
Ultrasound quadriceps | Frail (N = 23) | 32 (29–32) | 0.042 | 0.386 |
Non-frail (N = 17) | 34 (31–35) | 0.008 | ||
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis | Frail (N = 20) | 32 (29–32) | 0.009 | 0.352 |
Non-frail (N = 16) | 34 (32–35) | 0.008 |
Qualitative results
Study procedures
“I was looking forward to it actually [gait speed]; I thought at least it would get me moving …”
“Actually, I enjoyed doing all the tests”
“It was welcoming really to try to do things that I couldn't do 12 months ago”
“Anything positive to do with your health is definitely a good thing”
“It was quite relaxing”
“I'm pleased with how I've done. I enjoyed it all”
“All of the testing has been unobtrusive and seemed very sensible”
“It's very important … it's important for people in the future …. All tests like you do are important … Future generations have still got to get old”
“They're all very worthwhile and very good”
“Perfectly alright … It's all good to have these tests as you don't know yourself”
Other procedures
“Apart from ‘getting up from the chair’ [chair stands] it was no effort”
“The only one that really got me was ‘the chair’ [chair stands]”
“The only thing was the balance thing [tandem stand]”
Research participation
“If it helps anyone else to get better then so be it”
“I do them because I know that I'm helping to improve things”
“If it's gonna be useful to you and to someone else that's good enough for me”
“I'm glad to be of service to someone – whatever helps you and your research”
“I'm glad that I was able to help …”
“I just find I learn something and you learn something. My motivation is I want to see the boundaries pushed back”
“We found out how these things work”
“I enjoyed it all – interesting and educational”
“I've just been really interested in what you've done”
“Grateful to visitors - we enjoyed”
“I've enjoyed you coming and seeing you … it gives you an insight into what's going on”
“I'm pleased that you're able to come to me and I've not got to travel anywhere …”