Development of a Training Device for Practicing Sit-to-Stand Assistance Techniques

Abstract

  Assisting with patient transfers carries a high risk of patient falls and low back injuries among caregivers. It is essential for caregivers to coordinate their movements with those of the patient during the transfer process. We targeted the sit to stand phase of patient transfer and developed a simplified skeletal model simulator to train two key skills: lower-limb extension and upper body support. Training sessions using this device enabled the participants to identify technique errors and demonstrate improvements in their performance. Post training surveys indicated that the participants (1) gained a deeper understanding of proper assistance techniques, (2) reported increased confidence in their abilities, and (3) perceived a reduced physical burden. Further studies are required to quantitatively validate the effectiveness of this device.