Falls InjuryWalkerNCT03419845
Frequent Fallers' Experiences of an Adapted Walking Frame, Designed to Reduce the Walking Aid's Associated Falls Risk
A study testing Step Right Buddy in people with Falls Injury, run by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
For some patients with mobility issues, a walking frame (commonly known as a zimmer frame - trademark of Zimmer Holdings), is provided to keep them on their feet and help them remain more independent in their home and when out and about. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Falls Injury
- What is being tested?
- Step Right Buddy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 18 May 2017to 30 Jun 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Purposively sampled as those identified as 'fallers' as a result of their use of the walking frame or at risk of falling currently on the case load of the rehabilitation team within Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Routinely use walking frame to manoeuvre around the house and/or outside
- 18 years old or greater (no upper age limit)
- Have no visual impairments
- Must have mental capacity to consent for themselves
- Must speak, read and comprehend English to participate in the interview
Who cannot join
- This are not perceived to be at risk of falling as a result of their use of the walking frame
- Are younger than 18 years of age
- Are visually impaired
- Do not have mental capacity to consent for themselves
- Cannot comprehend written and spoken English sufficiently to give informed consent
- Are unable to follow the safety instructions for using the Step Right Buddy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
Clive Thursfield
Birmingham, West Midlands, B7 4BN
About this study
Official title: A Pilot Investigation Into Frequent Fallers' Experiences of an Adapted Walking Frame, Designed to Reduce the Walking Aid's Associated Falls Risk
For some patients with mobility issues, a walking frame (commonly known as a zimmer frame - trademark of Zimmer Holdings), is provided to keep them on their feet and help them remain more independent in their home and when out and about. When patients are given the walking frame, they are given information on how to use it safely to protect them from hurting themselves. For a small group of patients, using the walking frame is difficult, and they will have a fall because they are unable to use the frame safely. For these patients, a fear of falling can then develop and they can then have more falls. It is thought that these falls with the walking frame happen because the patient steps too far into the frame, making them unstable. We have made an attachment for a standard walking frame, which we are calling the Step Right Buddy, that we think will help improve the stability of patients who step too far into the frame. We have attached a detachable elasticated band across the back legs of the frame to make patients aware that they have stepped far enough into the frame, to stop them stepping any further. In order to develop this further, we need to understand how people feel using this adapted frame and whether there are any new risks to the user.
The investigators propose to ask patients who are considered to be at risk of falling because of the way they use their walking frame if they would like to use the adapted walking frame in their home, instead of their standard frame, for a week. At the end of this week, investigators will spend up to an hour with this patient, talking with them about their experience of the adapted walking frame, in order to understand things such as how they felt using the frame, were they more or less fearful of using it than their usual frame, did they think they were going to fall over more or less often, do they think they fall more or less often. In addition to this, patients will keep a written record of when they thought they nearly fell, or when they had an injury whilst using the adapted walking frame. This information will be used to explore whether or not the adaption to the frame introduces new risks to patients.
Read the detailed description
Title: A pilot investigation into frequent fallers' experiences of an adapted walking frame, designed to reduce the walking aid's associated falls risk.
Short title: The Walker Study
Chief Investigator: Dr Sarahjane Jones
Objectives:
To qualitatively explore the user's experience of the Step Right Buddy after a one week pilot trial and to assess the introduction of new risks to the patient as a result of the adaptation.
Trial configuration:
Qualitatively assessed clinical trial of a novel product.
Setting: Community care - patient homes.
Sample size: 20
Description of intervention: Application of the Step Right Buddy to the standard walking frame for patients to use as normal at home for one week.
Study duration:
Project length: March 2017 - July 2017
Length of participation - 1 week from consent
Randomisation and blinding: Single arm, open trial
Outcome measures: Participants' experiences of using the Step Right Buddy and adverse event data.
Analysis techniques: Framework analysis of textual data regarding the participants experiences and, where appropriate, root cause analysis of adverse events.
- Conditions
- Falls Injury
- Being tested
- Step Right Buddy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Step Right BuddyDevice
The Step Right Buddy, which is under investigation in this clinical study, is an elasticated band that attached by Velcro to the back legs of a standard walking frame. The purpose of the Step Right Buddy is to provide sensory feedback to standard walking frame users of how far to step in to the frame and to encourage them to move the frame forward.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Step Right Buddy arm | Experimental | To use modified walking frame using the Step Right Buddy Receives: Device: Step Right Buddy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
User experience
User experience will be assessed by asking the patient to trial the attachment for one week, completing a risk form during this week and providing verbal feedback at the end of this week.
Measured: 1 week
Secondary outcomes (1)
Adverse events
To assess the introduction of new risks to the patient as a result of the adaptation
Measured: 1 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Feb 2018
- Study start18 May 2017
- Primary completion30 Jun 2017
- Study completion30 Jun 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Falls InjuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single arm, open trial to qualitatively explore the user's experience of the Step Right Buddy after a one week pilot trial and to assess the introduction of new risks to the patient as a result of the adaptation.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Collaborators
- Birmingham City University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sarahjane Jones, PhD, Principal investigator, Honorary contract - Birmingham Commnity Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (substantive post with Birmingham City University)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03419845
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 216488
- Acronym
- Walker
- Status last verified
- Jan 2018
- First submitted
- 20 Feb 2017
- Last updated
- 5 Feb 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: NA we are not making IPD available to other researchers.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Feb 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Pilot Investigation Into Frequent Fallers' Experiences of an Adapted Walking Frame, Designed to Reduce the Walking Aid's Associated Falls Risk
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03419845
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Walker / 216488
- Conditions
- Falls Injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Birmingham Community Healthcare NHSOther government
- Collaborators
- Birmingham City University
- Study start
- 18 May 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
For some patients with mobility issues, a walking frame (commonly known as a zimmer frame - trademark of Zimmer Holdings), is provided to keep them on their feet and help them remain more independent in their home and when out and about. When patients are given the walking frame, they are given information on how to use it safely to protect them from hurting themselves. For a small group of patients, using the walking frame is difficult, and they will have a fall because they are unable to use the frame safely. For these patients, a fear of falling can then develop and they can then have more falls. It is thought that these falls with the walking frame happen because the patient steps too far into the frame, making them unstable. We have made an attachment for a standard walking frame, which we are calling the Step Right Buddy, that we think will help improve the stability of patients who step too far into the frame. We have attached a detachable elasticated band across the back legs of the frame to make patients aware that they have stepped far enough into the frame, to stop them stepping any further. In order to develop this further, we need to understand how people feel using this adapted frame and whether there are any new risks to the user.
The investigators propose to ask patients who are considered to be at risk of falling because of the way they use their walking frame if they would like to use the adapted walking frame in their home, instead of their standard frame, for a week. At the end of this week, investigators will spend up to an hour with this patient, talking with them about their experience of the adapted walking frame, in order to understand things such as how they felt using the frame, were they more or less fearful of using it than their usual frame, did they think they were going to fall over more or less often, do they think they fall more or less often. In addition to this, patients will keep a written record of when they thought they nearly fell, or when they had an injury whilst using the adapted walking frame. This information will be used to explore whether or not the adaption to the frame introduces new risks to patients.
Detailed description
Title: A pilot investigation into frequent fallers' experiences of an adapted walking frame, designed to reduce the walking aid's associated falls risk.
Short title: The Walker Study
Chief Investigator: Dr Sarahjane Jones
Objectives:
To qualitatively explore the user's experience of the Step Right Buddy after a one week pilot trial and to assess the introduction of new risks to the patient as a result of the adaptation.
Trial configuration:
Qualitatively assessed clinical trial of a novel product.
Setting: Community care - patient homes.
Sample size: 20
Description of intervention: Application of the Step Right Buddy to the standard walking frame for patients to use as normal at home for one week.
Study duration:
Project length: March 2017 - July 2017
Length of participation - 1 week from consent
Randomisation and blinding: Single arm, open trial
Outcome measures: Participants' experiences of using the Step Right Buddy and adverse event data.
Analysis techniques: Framework analysis of textual data regarding the participants experiences and, where appropriate, root cause analysis of adverse events.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single arm, open trial to qualitatively explore the user's experience of the Step Right Buddy after a one week pilot trial and to assess the introduction of new risks to the patient as a result of the adaptation.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Step Right Buddy arm | Experimental | Device: Step Right BuddyTo use modified walking frame using the Step Right Buddy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Purposively sampled as those identified as 'fallers' as a result of their use of the walking frame or at risk of falling currently on the case load of the rehabilitation team within Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Routinely use walking frame to manoeuvre around the house and/or outside
- 18 years old or greater (no upper age limit)
- Have no visual impairments
- Must have mental capacity to consent for themselves
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- This are not perceived to be at risk of falling as a result of their use of the walking frame
- Are younger than 18 years of age
- Are visually impaired
- Do not have mental capacity to consent for themselves
- Cannot comprehend written and spoken English sufficiently to give informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Step Right BuddyThe Step Right Buddy, which is under investigation in this clinical study, is an elasticated band that attached by Velcro to the back legs of a standard walking frame. The purpose of the Step Right Buddy is to provide sensory feedback to standard walking frame users of how far to step in to the frame and to encourage them to move the frame forward. | Device | Step Right Buddy arm |
Primary outcome
User experience
Time frame: 1 week
User experience will be assessed by asking the patient to trial the attachment for one week, completing a risk form during this week and providing verbal feedback at the end of this week.
1 secondary outcome
Adverse events
Time frame: 1 week
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Feb 2018.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. NA we are not making IPD available to other researchers.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Sarahjane Jones, PhD principal investigator
Honorary contract - Birmingham Commnity Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (substantive post with Birmingham City University)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Step Right Buddy in people with Falls Injury, run by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Feb 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
User experience (time frame: 1 week). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Feb 2018.