Physiotherapists’ Acceptability Towards a Monitoring Tool for Muscle Fatigability in Hip Fracture Clients

The demographic change leads to an increase in hip fracture clients for physiotherapists in Germany. However, a device called Eforto® that allows for measuring grip work and fatigue resistance as an indicator of muscle fatigability could potentially help physiotherapists to monitor their clients’ level of recovery. This study focuses on two aims: (1) to explore what the treatment context of physiotherapists regarding working with community-dwelling older adult hip fracture clients is. The other aim is formulated as (2) to explore what the underlying factors of physiotherapists’ acceptability towards monitoring muscle fatigability of community-dwelling older adult hip fracture clients by using the Eforto® device are. The current qualitative interview study is based on the Theory of Acceptance and Technology (UTAUT). Seven German physiotherapists who have worked or who are currently working with community-dwelling older adult hip fracture clients took part in the study. The transcribed interviews were analysed first via inductive and inductive methods. A code structure was developed based on the determinants of the UTAUT model. The results of the study gave insights into the context of the physiotherapy treatment of community-dwelling older adult hip fracture clients and showed that physiotherapists show interest in the Eforto® device.