BMJ  2006;332:729 (25 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7543.729-b

Letter

Effectiveness of hip protectors

It's more the effectiveness of compliance strategies

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—I write with reference to the systematic review by Parker et al.1 Adherence is certainly an issue, and needs to be addressed organisationally as well as at the level of the individual. However, given that many of those people seen as possible beneficiaries are cognitively or physically impaired and living in institutions, I think the question of consent is also an issue. I guess most BMJ readers would prefer not to wear special pants for the last 20 or so years of their lives, even if avoiding a hip fracture could be guaranteed. Avoiding a fall is better than wearing a hip protector (most falls don't result in a hip fracture, but they are all very unpleasant for the faller) so hip protectors should not be seen as a substitute for a falls prevention programme.

McCrea in his rapid response to Parker et al suggests that hip fracture . . . [Full text of this article]

Peter D O'Halloran, lecturer

Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AF p.ohalloran@qub.ac.uk


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Relevant Article

Effectiveness of hip protectors for preventing hip fractures in elderly people: systematic review
Martyn J Parker, William J Gillespie, and Lesley D Gillespie
BMJ 2006 332: 571-574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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