Enhancement of Portering Standard and Safety Through Designing a New Suspension System of Urinary Drainage Bag for Effective and Efficient Wheelchair Transport in Physiotherapy Department

Abstract Description

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Authors (including presenting author) :

Chan JSP, Lee SKF, Kwan MWF, Chan MYL, Ng AKM, Lam KHM, Kwok CCL, Chau RMW

Affiliation :

Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital

Introduction :

Physiotherapy Department serves clients with a diverse spectrum of physical incapability. Use of wheelchair for transporting patients with compromised functional mobility is necessary in rehabilitation service and a significant proportion is urinary bag user. There is no ready-made or commercially-available attachment for the urinary drainage bag in a standard portering wheelchair. It often takes times to find a suitable place to anchor and re-adjustment for safe journey.

Objectives :

This investigation determined the effects of anchoring mechanism of urinary drainage bag for wheelchair transport using a new designed suspension system and the conventional method.

Methodology :

Twenty urinary drainage bag patients by wheelchair potering for gymnasium-session (inpatient-setting) were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The intervention-group (N=10) adopted a new light weight and non-rigid suspension system designed by Physiotherapist using rope with specific knots for anchoring the hanger of the urinary drainage bag just beneath the wheelchair and positioned off the floor. The other group as control-group (N=10) by using conventional anchoring method. Patient unable to communicate was excluded. Subject was evaluated in the standard 10-minute journey. Satisfaction survey was conducted for patients and staffs. Independent samples t-test(SPSS23.0) was used to detect a statistical difference (P< 0.05) between control and intervention-group for ordinal variables.

Result & Outcome :

Twenty subjects aged 73.70±11.43 years with 80% being male were included. A significant difference was found in frequency of stop-and-readjusting of insecure and potential dropping urinary drainage bag during transport between two groups (0 time intervention-group versus 2 times control-group,P< 0.05). A significant reduced in total re-adjusting time during the transport-journey (0 second intervention-group versus 120 second control-group,P< 0.05). Both groups showed zero incident of dropping bag on floor (0-time versus 0-time,P≥0.05). Higher satisfaction rate about the new suspension system (75% very-satisfied and 25% satisfied in staff-sub-group; 90% very-satisfied and 10% satisfied in patient-sub-group) when compared to the conventional method (neutral 50% and 50% dis-satisfied in staff-sub-group; neutral 20% and 80% dis-satisfied in patient-sub-group) was reported by stakeholders. Applying the new suspension system enhanced potering standard of wheelchair transport with easy handling skills and affirmed safety during wheelchair transport and improved stakeholders’ satisfaction.