A group of Shellharbour Hospital staff will swap work uniforms for their pyjamas this week as part of a global push to get patients out of bed, dressed and moving.
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The campaign, known as #endPJparalysis, aims to create awareness of bed rest and why it’s not always the best medicine.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District division of medicine co-director, Associate Professor Spiros Miyakis, said bed rest could in fact cause unintended harm to frail patients.
“We know that just 10 days of bed rest in a hospital setting can age muscles in older patients by a massive 10 years,” he said.
“This rapid muscle deconditioning means patients can quickly become weaker, and it can take twice as long to get back on their feet.
“This can lead to other health problems and even longer hospital stays, so we are looking at ways to get patients up and about and reduce the risk of this cycle where possible.”
#endPJparalysis is an international campaign founded by UK Professor Brian Dolan. Research has shown that by better supporting patients to wear their day clothes while in hospital, recovery is boosted and they can return home and back to their regular routines more quickly.
Shellharbour Hospital project nurse lead, Megan Foye, said #endPJparalysis wouldl be trialled throughout the health district to gauge the benefits for patients.
She said some of the staff involved would come to work in their PJs to get a better understanding of how vulnerable patients could feel wearing their nightwear all day.
“It’s a common misconception that pyjamas should be worn at all times in hospital,” she said.
“We want patients, their families and staff to know that establishing a routine of getting up and out of bed to get dressed has been proven to assist recovery.
“Wearing pyjamas all day can often reinforce feeling unwell, while clothes say a patient is getting better.”
Ms Foye said staff wanted to get patients back on their feet as soon as possible to maintain their strength, confidence and routine during their hospital stay.
The initiative is one of the projects being rolled out in hospitals across the health district as part of the Fit For Frailty program.
Nine per cent of the region’s population are aged over 75. Those within this age group are not all frail, however they do account for 16 per cent of emergency department presentations, 60 per cent of falls and 43 per cent of medication issues.
“The district’s Fit for Frailty Program is looking at all aspects and challenges of the frail person’s journey,” Ms Foye said.
“This will allow us to develop systems and approaches that ensure that ISLHD is fit to care for frail people now and into the future.”