Can Technology-Assisted Toilets Improve Hygiene and Independence in Geriatric Rehabilitation? A Cohort Study

August 5, 2015 updated by: Bruyere Research Institute

Toileting is a private activity of daily living. Geriatric rehabilitation patients are often unable to toilet themselves independently, leading to embarrassment and loss of self-esteem. Relationships with their caregivers may also become strained. Furthermore, improper toileting hygiene can lead to skin irritation, breakdown and infection.

Technology-assisted toilets (TATs) clean and dry the anal and vaginal regions using a stream of water and a fan. They can therefore potentially eliminate the need for patients to be able to wipe themselves. TATs are operated using wall-mounted remote controls. This study will examine the potential benefits of TAT use in geriatric rehabilitation patients.

Forty patients aged ≥65 years referred for treatment of physical impairments to the Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit (GRU) of the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital (EBH) will be recruited for this study. Participants will have a bowel movement on two occasions, once using toilet paper and once using the TAT. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS), a validated questionnaire, will be used to analyze participants' toileting experience. Participants will be visually evaluated for cleanliness before and after each testing session.

The investigators hypothesize that participants will report that, in comparison with use of a standard toilet, toileting using the TAT: 1) is easier to use, 2) improves psychological well-being and 3) is more effective at cleaning than regular wiping techniques.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. over the age of 65
  2. inpatients at the EBH GRU
  3. can communicate effectively in English or French
  4. are able to remain balanced while sitting on a toilet
  5. are able to physically use the remote control
  6. are able to wipe themselves, but they do not need to be able to wipe themselves effectively

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. are cognitively unable to provide informed consent
  2. are severely aphasic
  3. are undergoing treatment that interferes with toileting
  4. have any conditions that increase perineal sensitivity such as ulcers, wounds, or infections
  5. require two people to assist them in transferring to and from the toilet
  6. are under isolation precautions

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
  • Masking: SINGLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Standard Toileting First
This group will complete the standard toileting trial before the TAT toileting trial.
Device: Technology-Assisted Toileting
Other Names:
  • bidet toilets
  • smart toilets
  • TOTO Washlet
Experimental: TAT Toileting First
This group will complete the TAT toileting trial before the standard toileting trial.
Device: Technology-Assisted Toileting
Other Names:
  • bidet toilets
  • smart toilets
  • TOTO Washlet

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS)
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
Scale used to assess participants' subjective feelings of adaptability, competence, and self-esteem
up to 12 weeks
Cleanliness Scale
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
A new scale being piloted to measure cleanliness of the anal/genital regions
up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bruyere Research Institute

Collaborators

University of Ottawa
Bruyere Academic Medical Organization
TOTO USA

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Hillel Finestone, MD, Bruyère Continuing Care, Bruyère Research Institute, Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital, University of Ottawa.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2015

Study Completion (Anticipated)

March 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 3, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

August 7, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 7, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 5, 2015

Last Verified

July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • M16-15-022

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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