Enhancing Compliance to the Seated Portion of a Hospital Mobility Bundle: A Mixed Method Case Study

This mixed method case study evaluated nursing perceptions in a 431-bed hospital setting regarding the applicability, utilization, and efficiency of employing a new seated positioning system (SPS) device for sitting patients upright and boosting them in chairs. Focus group interviews were conducted prepilot (N=38) and postpilot (N=36) of the SPS device, along with collection of postpilot survey data (N=39). Nurses prefer the use of an SPS device over traditional efforts of pulling patient upright in chairs; less effort and fewer staff is required (all 8 survey items scored faborably with a least 68% of respondents). Nurses are more compliant in following organizational safety standards when using the device and felt it aided with falls and pressure ulcer prevention [r(37) > .80; p = 0.00, for each respective item correlation]. Such an alternative SPS device can affect safe patient handling, repositioning, and mobility protocol compliance.

Kowal C

Keywords: safe patient handling, seated positioning system device, repositioning patients in a chair