Background: Mobility interventions can prevent functional decline among older patients, but implementation of
such interventions may be complicated by barriers in the clinical setting. The WALK-Copenhagen project (WALK-Cph)
is aimed at promoting a 24-h mobility among older medical patients during hospitalization. The WALK-Cph intervention
was co-designed by researchers and stakeholders to tailor the intervention to the clinical context. The aim of this
study was to investigate the feasibility and implementation fidelity of the WALK-Cph intervention before evaluating
clinical effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03825497).
Methods: The WALK-Cph intervention consisted of six components: a welcome folder explaining the importance
of in-hospital activity, a WALK-plan prescribing up to three daily walking sessions during and after hospitalization, a
WALK-path in the hallway that patients were motivated to use daily, exercise posters in the hallways and bedrooms,
self-service on beverages and clothes, and discharge with a WALK-plan. The present study reports on phase 2 of
WALK-Cph and consists of a feasibility and a fidelity component. The study was conducted at the two WALK-Cph
intervention departments after the initiation of the WALK-Cph intervention. A cohort of older medical patients (+65)
was recruited for the feasibility study to assess recruitment and data collection procedures and the method for assessment
of activity. Simultaneously, implementation fidelity was assessed by observing clinical practice and intervention
delivery at the intervention departments.
Results: A feasibility cohort of 48 patients was included. Inclusion was considered feasible with recruitment rates
between 62% and 70% of all eligible patients. Also, data collection was conducted without obstacles, and all patients
accepted to wear activity monitors. The fidelity observations showed that three of the six intervention components
were partially implemented as planned whereas three components were not implemented as planned.