Original Title: [Évaluation des protecteurs de hanche pour les usagers à risque de chute]

Authors' objectives: The main objective of the assessment of technologies and methods of intervention was to answer the following decision question: “Should hip protectors be used at the CHU de Québec and the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale as a measure to prevent hip fractures in people at risk of falls who are hospitalized in an acute care centre or admitted to a CHSLD or a physical rehabilitation centre?”

Authors' results and conclusions: At the end of the assessment and in light of the data analyzed as well as the exchanges with an interdisciplinary working group, five observations can be made: 1. Although the magnitude of the effect is difficult to estimate, the use of hip protectors may help reduce hip fractures in nursing homes. 2. The available data is insufficient to conclude on the use of hip protectors in acute care facilities and physical rehabilitation centres. 3. The use of hip protectors requires consideration of the barriers, issues and facilitators associated with them. 4. The practice of wearing of hip protectors to prevent hip fractures is not very standardized and varies depending on the type of health care facility in Quebec. 5. The place of hip protectors in fracture prevention should be defined in programs for the prevention of falls and their consequences in health care facilities in the Quebec City region.

Authors' recommendations: Recommendation 1 It is recommended that the Direction du soutien à l’autonomie des personnes âgées (DSAPA) – Volet hébergement of the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale maintain the use of hip protectors and undertake a continuous improvement process to better formalize their use for residents in CHSLDs at risk of falls and fractures, in consultation with staff, residents and their relatives. Recommendation 2 Due the high uncertainty, it is recommended that the Comité tactique interdisciplinaire sur les chutes of the CHU de Québec not introduce the use of hip protectors into routine practice as a measure to prevent hip fractures in hospitalized patients who are at risk of falls. Recommendation 3 Due to the high uncertainty, it is recommended that the Direction Déficience intellectuelle, trouble du spectre de l’autisme et déficience physique not introduce the use of hip protectors into routine practice as a preventive measure in the physical rehabilitation centres of the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale.

Authors' methods: (1) A systematic review of the literature was carried out in various bibliographic databases and websites for the period of publication from January 1, 2000 to August 23, 2022. (2) Contextual data on falls at the CHU de Québec and the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale were analyzed. (3) A practice survey on the use of hip protectors was conducted in facilities in Quebec’s health network. (4) A patient experience survey was also conducted by the Bureau d’expertise en expérience patient et partenariat of the CHU de Québec in two CHSLDs of the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.ciusss-capitalenationale.gouv.qc.ca/sites/d8/files/docs/MissionUniversitaire/ETMISSS/ETMISSS_SOMMAIRE-ANGLAIS_PROTECTEURS-HANCHE.pdf

Year Published: 2023

URL for published report: https://www.ciusss-capitalenationale.gouv.qc.ca/sites/d8/files/docs/MissionUniversitaire/ETMISSS/RAPPORT_Protecteurs-hanche.pdf

Requestor: Health professionals, students, long term care workers

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Country: Canada

Province: Quebec

Organisation Name: Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale

Contact Address: 525, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, bureau A-122

Contact Name: Sylvie St-Jacques

Contact Email: uetmisss.deau.ciussscn@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Copyright: CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2023