Health Care Provider Awareness and Perceptions of Hip Protectors: Results from a Pilot Survey

Abstract

Hip fracture is a serious and increasing problem for the elderly population. A variety of currently marketed devices are intended to reduce the risk of hip fracture by shunting the force of a fall away from the greater trochantor. While some of these hip protectors have been evaluated, most have not. Moreover, there are no design standards for the manufacture of hip protectors or criteria for testing their effectiveness, comfort, and durability. Because hip protectors can be purchased without a prescription, it is important that health care providers be in a position to provide informed advice to their elderly patients at risk for falling. To explore health care providers' knowledge and perceptions of hip protectors, we conducted a pilot mailed survey of selected categories of physicians and non-physicians in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts. Our findings suggest that many U.S. health care providers have little or no knowledge of hip protectors, although most believe such devices could have potential benefit for elderly patients.