of primary epistaxis increased the risk of new bleeding
episodes. Baseline demographic variables were concurrently
recorded to describe the patients in more detail. The
information concerned bed rest complications, primary
treatment, hypertension, bleeding disorders, anticoagulant
treatment and diabetes.
Methods
Randomised patient sample
The study was designed as a prospective, randomised and 1:1
parallel-group trial. Participants were recruited consecutively
amongst patients admitted to the department for primary
epistaxis treatment from 3 May 2006. The aim of including
100 patients was obtained by 1 April 2008.
Inclusion criteria
The criteria for inclusion were that the patient:
• had to be above the age 18 with the capacity to make their
own decisions;
• had to be able to understand and speak Danish;
• could give his or her informed written consent within
three hours of admission to the ward, so that in case of
mobilisation, the patients could be mobilised from the
beginning of their admission (patients admitted during the
night did not have to give their consent until the next
morning).
Exclusion criteria
The criteria for exclusion were that the patient:
• was without the capacity to make their own decisions;
• had secondary epistaxis, e.g. caused by trauma, tumours,
use of narcotics;
• had very high blood pressure (> 120 diastolic or
> 220 mmHg systolic);
• was admitted for nose bleeding within the previous three
months;
• had previously taken part in the trial;
• were employed at the department.
The trained nursing staff and doctors at the ward used the
described criteria to determine the eligibility of patients for
participation in the study. After informed and written consent
had been obtained, an individual data registration form with
consecutive numbering was retrieved from a folder and
completed. Thus, participants were consecutively numbered
according to the time of their enrolment with uneven
numbers assigned to the mobilised group (study group) and
even numbers assigned to the group receiving the conventional
treatment of immobilisation (control group).