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Research article
Brian O'Rourke
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Corresponding Author
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Background Falls in older people are common and can result in loss of confidence, fear of falling, restriction in activity and loss of independence. Causes of falls are multi-factorial and include extrinsic factors such as unsafe footwear. Inappropriate footwear may increase the risk of falls. There is a paucity of research assessing the footwear characteristics among older people who are at high risk of falls, internationally and in the Irish setting. The aim of this study was to examine the proportion of older adults attending a geriatric day hospital in Ireland who were wearing incorrectly sized shoes. Methods A consecutive sample of 111 older adults aged 60 years and over attending a geriatric day hospital in a large Irish teaching hospital was recruited. Demographic data including age, mobility, medications, use of glasses, social support, footwear worn at home and falls history were recorded. Shoe size and foot length were measured in millimetres using an internal shoe gauge and SATRA shoe size stick, respectively. Subjects’ self-reported shoe size was recorded. Footwear was assessed using the Footwear Assessment Form (FAF). A Timed Up and Go (TUG) score was recorded. Participation was assessed using the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) Scale. Those with shoes fitting on at least one foot were compared to those with ill-fitting footwear on both feet using Chi-square tests, T-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Results 72% of participants were wearing footwear that did not fit correctly on both feet according to our definition based on previous literature. Only 6% were wearing footwear that fitted correctly on both feet. 67% wore slippers at home. 90% had shoes with smooth, partly worn or fully worn sole treading. Participant age, TUG score and NEADL score were not associated with ill-fitting footwear. Conclusions Wearing incorrectly fitting shoes and shoes with unsafe features is common among older adults attending geriatric day services. The large number of participants who reported wearing slippers at home is also an important finding. Ill-fitting footwear and slippers are risk factors for falls thus warranting further investigation to help guide future falls prevention services at day hospitals.
Keywords
shoes, accidental falls, footwear fit
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 24 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 13 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Jan, 2020
Version 2
Posted 25 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 08 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 02 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 21 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 20 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 20 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 02 Sep, 2019
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 02 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 26 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 16 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 05 Jul, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 02 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 02 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 21 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC Geriatrics.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Brian O'Rourke
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 24 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 13 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Jan, 2020
Version 2
Posted 25 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 08 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 02 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 21 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 20 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 20 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 02 Sep, 2019
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 02 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 26 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 16 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 05 Jul, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 02 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 02 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 21 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
Background Falls in older people are common and can result in loss of confidence, fear of falling, restriction in activity and loss of independence. Causes of falls are multi-factorial and include extrinsic factors such as unsafe footwear. Inappropriate footwear may increase the risk of falls. There is a paucity of research assessing the footwear characteristics among older people who are at high risk of falls, internationally and in the Irish setting. The aim of this study was to examine the proportion of older adults attending a geriatric day hospital in Ireland who were wearing incorrectly sized shoes. Methods A consecutive sample of 111 older adults aged 60 years and over attending a geriatric day hospital in a large Irish teaching hospital was recruited. Demographic data including age, mobility, medications, use of glasses, social support, footwear worn at home and falls history were recorded. Shoe size and foot length were measured in millimetres using an internal shoe gauge and SATRA shoe size stick, respectively. Subjects’ self-reported shoe size was recorded. Footwear was assessed using the Footwear Assessment Form (FAF). A Timed Up and Go (TUG) score was recorded. Participation was assessed using the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) Scale. Those with shoes fitting on at least one foot were compared to those with ill-fitting footwear on both feet using Chi-square tests, T-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Results 72% of participants were wearing footwear that did not fit correctly on both feet according to our definition based on previous literature. Only 6% were wearing footwear that fitted correctly on both feet. 67% wore slippers at home. 90% had shoes with smooth, partly worn or fully worn sole treading. Participant age, TUG score and NEADL score were not associated with ill-fitting footwear. Conclusions Wearing incorrectly fitting shoes and shoes with unsafe features is common among older adults attending geriatric day services. The large number of participants who reported wearing slippers at home is also an important finding. Ill-fitting footwear and slippers are risk factors for falls thus warranting further investigation to help guide future falls prevention services at day hospitals.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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