Clinical Research Directory

SAFER Karachi - A Fall Prevention Intervention

The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term effects of a culturally adapted and strengthened fall prevention program in older adults aged 60 years and above living in urban Karachi, Pakistan. The study aims to understand whether a structured, community-based intervention can improve mobility, confidence, and overall well-being, while reducing the risk of falls. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the adapted and strengthened fall prevention program feasible and acceptable for older adults in Karachi? 2. Does participation in the program improve mobility, balance, fall-related self-efficacy, and emotional well-being among participants? Participants will: 1. Take part in a 7-week group-based fall prevention program that includes strength and balance exercises, home safety education, medication awareness, and behavioural strategies 2. Receive a follow-up home visit to reinforce safety practices and environmental modifications 3. Attend a booster session after 3 months to support continued engagement 4. Complete assessments at baseline and follow-up, including mobility, cognitive function, quality of life, and emotional well-being 5. Maintain monthly fall logs to report any fall incidents during the study period

Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Skills in Adults With Vision Impairment

This pilot clinical trial evaluates whether non-invasive brain stimulation improves the orientation and mobility (O\&M) skills of individuals with constricted visual fields in both eyes. The study is composed of three visits. The first visit is meant to confirm eligibility by performing a few clinical tests. Eligible participants will then complete two additional visits, one in which the participants receive active stimulation, and one in which the participants receive placebo (sham) stimulation. Stimulation will be administered in a randomized, double-blind order. To evaluate improvement, various measures of O\&M performance will be assessed on a standardized obstacle course featuring static natural and artificial obstacles at defined intervals after the intervention. The investigators hypothesize that the application of brain stimulation to region of the brain responsible for visual processing will improve the orientation and mobility skills of individuals with binocular constricted visual fields immediately following stimulation, and the results will inform the design of a future, larger-scale study.

Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of De Morton Mobility Index After Abdominal Surgeries

PURPOSE: To determine validity and reliability of translated Arabic version of the De Morton Mobility index for mobility assessment in patients after abdominal surgeries. BACKGROUND: Major abdominal surgery has a high morbidity and Mortality rate, and the risk of surgical complications is higher than for equivalent elective operations. those receiving emergency laparotomy are in a condition of physiological derangement driven by inflammation that has already occurred prior to surgery, in contrast to those undergoing elective abdominal operations. early mobility and exercise play an important role in postoperative treatment following abdominal surgery and are related with reduced postoperative fitness loss and fewer postoperative complications in individuals undergoing elective surgery. reduced mobility is a primary factor of lower quality of life and decreased social participation. reduced mobility is particularly common in older hospitalized patients, and it leads to an increased risk of falls, longer hospitalizations, more severe impairment and morbidity, and higher mortality rates. To manage elderly patients' mobility function, a reliable and valid mobility assessment tool is required. Performance-based examinations are commonly used to measure the mobility of elderly individuals. The De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) was established and validated exclusively for older patients hospitalized in the ward. The DEMMI provides clinicians and researchers with a valid interval-level method for accurately measuring and monitoring mobility levels of acute medical patients. It has been validated also in sub acute hospital and community settings. A DEMMI score of \<40 indicates an independent risk of serious postoperative complications. A low DEMMI score suggested impaired mobilization, and prior research of patients following abdominal surgery discovered that delayed mobilization was related with postoperative pulmonary complications. HYPOTHESES: It will be hypothesized that: Arabic version of the De Morton Mobility Index may be valid and reliable in patients after abdominal surgeries. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is The Arabic version of the De Morton Mobility index valid and reliable for mobility assessment in patients after abdominal surgeries?