Bed Positioning Programs for Older Adults in a Chronic Care Hospital- A Survey

Bed Positioning Programs (BPPs) are instituted by interdisciplinary team members for severely disabled, institutionalized, older adults who present with or are at risk for contractures and are at risk for pain and skin breakdown. The purpose of the study was to survey physical therapists and occupational therapists on clinical issues surrounding BPPs in order to enable the design of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a BPP. Twenty-one therapists were surveyed. Results indicated BPPs are prevalent and use a substantial amount of resources. Therapists identified strategies to facilitate implementation of a BPP and expected outcomes of a BPP. This preliminary study assisted the investigators in developing a definitive description of a BPP and enabled the design of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of BPPs.