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Carling A.1,2, Forsberg A.2, Nilsagård Y.3
1University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden, 2School of Medical Science, Örebro University, Department of Physiotherapy, Örebro, Sweden, 3Health Care Management, Region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden
Background: Impaired balance and falls are common in persons with MS (PwMS), with fall rates exceeding 50%. Walking aids are prescribed by a physiotherapist or occupational therapist with the purpose of sustaining mobility and reducing fall risk. The walking aids are provided by the country council at a reduced cost. However, it is not known if the walking aid may also contribute to fall risk, possibly due to incorrect use.
Purpose: To describe perceived practice in walking aid use in PwMS.
Methods: Semi-structured phone interviews were initiated by 57 participants in a multi-center study who texted or called the researcher when they experienced a fall. 35 participants reported use of a walking aid when falling. The interviews were analyzed with the focus on what practice they had received from the prescriber when receiving the walking aid.
A latent, problem driven, content analysis was used. One author (AC) did the preliminary analysis. Consensus was reached by discussions with the research team.
Results: Three main categories emerged; No practice, just received the walking aid, No practice, but received practical information and Shorter practice on single occasion, including information. The majority perceived that they never received any practice at all in how to use the walking aid. Some mentioned that they had received verbal information regarding how to use it and that practical adjustments were made to fit the user. Only four participants talked about taking part in a shorter practice (5-30 minutes) of walking aid use at the health care location. In 24 of the 35 falls the walking aid was not used correctly.
Conclusion(s): A vast minority received actual practice in how to use their new walking aid. No one received practice in the environment in which the aid was aimed to be used in.
The study indicates the importance of correct adjustment of the walking aid, as well as practice in optimal and functional use of the walking aid.
Implications: The importance of correct practice in using the walking aid is illuminated. Clinicians prescribing walking aids should be more aware of the importance of optimizing the use of a walking aid, in order to possibly reduce falls.
Funding acknowledgements: Supported by grants from the Uppsala-Örebro Regional Research Committee, the research committee of Örebro County Council and the Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation.
Topic: Neurology: multiple sclerosis
Ethics approval: The study followed the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee in Uppsala-Örebro (2014/302).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
