Use of an Exercise Technology in Post-Acute Care of a Skilled Nursing Facility: A Feasibility Study.

Objectives: Use of exercise technologies has benefits for community-dwelling older adults in terms of improved gait and balance. But research on the feasibility of use of exercise technologies in various geriatric health care settings is lacking. Hence, the current study examined the feasibility of implementing an exercise technology intended to augment rehabilitation in patients receiving post-acute care (PAC) in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). We focused on 3 indicators of feasibility: extent of usage (including predictors of more intense use), patients' acceptability of the technology, and limited efficacy.

Design: Cross-sectional study with data from patients' electronic medical records (EMR), exercise technology portal, and patient interviews.

Setting: SNF.

Participants: A sample of post-acute patients (n = 237).

Measurements: Sociodemographic and health-related variables, time spent using the technology, and 8 items of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES).

Results: Average time spent using the technology varied greatly (range, 1-460 minutes). A regression analysis showed that patients who had a longer length of stay (β = .01, P < .05) and were younger (β = -0.01, P < .05) spent significantly more time using the technology. Acceptability of technology was high among patients. Finally, patients who used the technology had lower 30-day rehospitalization rates.

Conclusion: Exercise technology is feasible to use in supporting rehabilitation in patients receiving PAC in a SNF and seems to have beneficial effects.