Grip Strength Routine Implementation (GRImP)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02447445 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : May 18, 2015
Last Update Posted : April 19, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
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Frail Elderly, Inpatients | Procedure: Grip strength assessment |

Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 100 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Only |
Time Perspective: | Other |
Official Title: | Implementing Grip Strength Measurement Into Routine Clinical Practice; a Feasibility Study (GRImP) |
Study Start Date : | July 2015 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2016 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2017 |
Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
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Older inpatient at MOP
The group includes older patients who are admitted to one of the Medicine for Older Patients (MOP) wards. Grip strength will be part of the routine assessment of older patient when admitted to MOP.
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Procedure: Grip strength assessment
Grip strength will be measured by the ward nurse using a Jamar dynamometer by asking the patient to squeeze with each hand twice, starting with the right hand using the standardised protocol The maximum GS measurement will be recorded. Patients who have low maximum GS values (men < 27 kg and women <16 kg) or those who are unable to perform the test will receive a care plan. The care plan will focus on review of dietary energy and protein intake and any need for oral nutritional supplements or dietetic review, and review of mobility with any need for physiotherapy review with regard to progressive resistance exercises to increase muscle strength. |
- The feasibility and acceptability of routine implementation of grip strength assessment in older patients [ Time Frame: 6-9 months ]is it feasible to implement grip strength assessment routinely in Medicine for Older People (MOP) wards ? This will be determined by recording the proportion of older inpatients admitted to MOP wards who had their grip strength been measured and the percentage among them with low grip strength levels. The acceptability of routine implementation of grip strength will be assessed through qualitative method (interviews and focus groups) with older inpatients, medical staff, nursing staff, therapy and dietetic teams.
- The proportion of referrals to dietetic teams and the proportion of nutritional supplements prescriptions [ Time Frame: After 3 months of routine implementation of grip strength ]When routine GS measurement has been implemented and embedded in clinical practice for at least 3 months, the number (or percentage) and reasons for referrals to the dietetic weekly for the preceding 3 months will be extracted from the E-referrals and will be compared to the numbers collected at the baseline. The number (or percentage) of ONS prescriptions will also be calculated from electronic prescribing system and compared to the baseline figures.
- Costs of implementing grip strength assessment routinely in MOP [ Time Frame: 9-12 months ]A cost analysis will include the implementation costs and NHS resource utilisation. The implementation costs will involve cost of equipment, recalibration, nurses training by band, and note audits. Resource use information will be collected as part of the study and those will include: nutritional prescriptions, referral to dietician, length of stay and discharge destination. The results will be presented as cost per patient detected and cost per unit of 120 beds.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 80 Years and older (Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
Inclusion criteria will be older patients admitted to the MOP.
Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion criteria will be an inability to hold the dynamometer in either hand (eg pain and/or severe arthritis), inability to understand the explanation given (eg severe dementia or delirium), and terminal phase of illness.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02447445
United Kingdom | |
Southampton Genral Hospital | |
Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 6YD |
Study Chair: | Helen Roberts, PhD | University General Southampton UHS |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02447445 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RHM MED1250 |
First Posted: | May 18, 2015 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 19, 2018 |
Last Verified: | April 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |