Levine Iris C, Montgomery Roger E, Novak Alison C
KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Hum Factors. 2023 Dec;65(8):1821-1829. doi: 10.1177/00187208211059860. Epub 2021 Dec 28.
This study evaluated the hazard (risk of unrecovered balance loss and hazardous fall) and strategies associated with grab bar use, compared to no grab bar use, during unexpected balance loss initiated whilst exiting a bathtub.
While independent bathing is critical for maintaining self-sufficiency, injurious falls during bathing transfer tasks are common. Grab bars are recommended to support bathing tasks, but no evidence exists regarding fall prevention efficacy.
Sixty-three adults completed a hazardous bathtub transfer task, experiencing an unpredictable external balance perturbation while stepping from a slippery bathtub to a dry surface. Thirty-two were provided a grab bar, while 31 had no grab bar available. Slips and grab bar use were recorded via four video cameras. Slip occurrence and strategy were identified by two independent video coders.
Participants who had a grab bar were 75.8% more likely to recover their balance during the task than those who did not have a grab bar. Successful grab bar grasp was associated with balance recovery in all cases. Attempts to stabilize using other environmental elements, or using internal strategies only, were less successful balance recovery strategies. Grab bar presence appeared to cue use of the environment for stability. Proactive grasp and other strategies modified grasping success.
Grab bars appear to provide effective support for recovery from unexpected balance loss. Grab bar presence may instigate development of fall prevention strategies prior to loss of balance.
Bathroom designs with grab bars may reduce frequency of fall-related injuries during bathing transfer tasks.
本研究评估了在从浴缸出来时意外失去平衡的情况下，与不使用扶手相比，使用扶手相关的危险（未恢复平衡损失和危险跌倒的风险）及策略。
虽然独立沐浴对于维持自给自足至关重要，但沐浴转移任务期间的伤害性跌倒很常见。建议使用扶手来辅助沐浴任务，但尚无关于预防跌倒效果的证据。
63名成年人完成了一项危险的浴缸转移任务，即从滑溜溜的浴缸跨到干燥表面时经历不可预测的外部平衡扰动。32人提供了扶手，而31人没有扶手可用。通过四个摄像机记录滑倒和扶手使用情况。滑倒的发生和策略由两名独立的视频编码员确定。
在任务期间，有扶手的参与者恢复平衡的可能性比没有扶手的参与者高75.8%。在所有情况下，成功抓住扶手都与平衡恢复相关。尝试使用其他环境要素或仅使用内部策略来稳定身体，在恢复平衡方面不太成功。扶手的存在似乎提示利用环境来保持稳定。主动抓握和其他策略改变了抓握的成功率。
扶手似乎为从意外失去平衡中恢复提供了有效支持。扶手的存在可能会在失去平衡之前促使预防跌倒策略的形成。
带有扶手的浴室设计可能会减少沐浴转移任务期间与跌倒相关的伤害频率。
