Abstract
When patients are placed in a bed that is too small to allow them to turn from supine to side lying, caregivers are at an elevated risk of injury because of difficulty to turn the patient and patients may experience greater discomfort and risk of pressure injuries. Currently, no guidance is available for what patient sizes are accommodated by the standard 91.4-cm (36-in) wide hospital bed, and no studies have evaluated the relationship between anthropometric attributes and space required to turn in bed. This study included 47 participants (24 female) ranging in body mass index (BMI) from 20 to 76 kg/m2. Anthropometric dimensions were measured and the envelope of space required to turn from supine to side lying was determined using motion capture. Linear regressions were performed to estimate the relationship between anthropometry and space occupied when turning. The anthropometric attributes most highly correlated to space required to turn were waist circumference (R2 = 0.91) and BMI (R2 = 0.88). These findings can be used to design products that better accommodate the needs of patients and their caregivers.