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. 2022 Jan 17;9(1):24-34.
doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1874. eCollection 2022 Winter.

A Physical Therapy Mobility Checkup for Older Adults: Feasibility and Participant Preferences From a Discrete Choice Experiment

Dalerie Lieberz  1 , Hannah Borgeson  2 , Steven Dobson  3 , Lindsey Ewings  1 , Karen Johnson  4 , Kori Klaysmat  1 , Abby Schultz  1 , Rachel Tasson  1 , Alexandra L Borstad  1
Affiliations

A Physical Therapy Mobility Checkup for Older Adults: Feasibility and Participant Preferences From a Discrete Choice Experiment

Dalerie Lieberz et al. J Patient Cent Res Rev. .

Abstract

Purpose: Physical performance measures, like walking speed, identify and predict preclinical mobility disability but are rarely used in routine medical care. A preventive model of care called Mobility Checkup is being designed to reduce mobility disability in older adults. This study had two purposes: 1) determine feasibility and outcomes of the Mobility Checkup, and 2) identify preferences of older adults regarding this model of care using a discrete choice experiment.

Methods: Adults over 55 years of age were recruited from the community. In the study's first phase, participants completed a Mobility Checkup, with feasibility evaluated using 6 criteria. In the second phase, a new sample of older adults (>55 years old) were educated about the Mobility Checkup and then completed a discrete choice experiment to determine their preferences regarding 4 attributes of this care model: cost, visit duration, desired education topic, and style of educational graphic.

Results: Each study phase was completed by 31 participants. Of the 6 feasibility criteria, 5 were met. Visit duration exceeded the 60-minute criteria for 13 of the 31 participants. Still, 91% of participants were very satisfied with the Mobility Checkup. Ability to transition positions identified preclinical mobility disability most frequently. A 30-minute visit with no out-of-pocket cost was deemed preferred.

Conclusions: Older adults value knowing what physical performance measurements predict about their general health. Transitions should be evaluated as part of a Mobility Checkup for older adults. Clearly conveyed cost of health care service is important to older adult consumers.

Keywords: healthy aging; mobility disability; older adults; patient preferences; preclinical; preventive care; routine care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The enrollment, allocation of participants, and number of participants analyzed is shown in CONSORT diagrams for the Mobility Checkup and discrete choice experiment study phases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The Venn diagram includes data from 21 study participants who were below the 50th percentile on the age-referenced normative value for at least 1 measure (no overlap) or more than 1 (overlap) mobility category. Most participants were below average in >1 category.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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