Protector de cadera: la vida sigue igual

Abstract

Background and objectiveIn 2004, a descriptive study evaluated the knowledge and use of the hip protector (HP) in private and subsidized private nursing homes of the Community of Madrid (Social Services Council), showing that the HP was little known and thus hardly used. The aim of this work is to determine, fourteen years later, whether the degree of knowledge on the HP and its use has improved. MethodsDescriptive study. Health professionals of private, subsidized private and public management nursing homes (n=216) and day centres (n=170) for the elderly (Social Policies and Family Council) in the Community of Madrid were interviewed by phone, between January and October, 2018. They were asked about the knowledge, use and prescription criteria of the HP. ResultsWe contacted 216 nursing homes and 209 responded. Thirty-four percent knew about the HP, and 7.2% used it. Of the 170 day centres, information was obtained from 158. Thirty-one point six percent knew about it, and 7.6% used it. ConclusionsKnowledge about the HP and its use has improved slightly, compared to 2004, in nursing homes and day centres of the Community of Madrid. However, it continues to be an underestimated and hardly used prevention measure.