An interdisciplinary intervention for older Taiwanese patients after surgery for hip fracture improves health-related quality of life
2010

Interdisciplinary Intervention Improves Quality of Life for Older Patients After Hip Fracture

Sample size: 162 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Shyu Yea-Ing L, Liang Jersey, Wu Chi-Chuan, Cheng Huey-Shinn, Chen Min-Chi

Primary Institution: Chang Gung University

Hypothesis

Older patients with hip fracture who received our interdisciplinary intervention program would have better health-related quality of life than those who did not.

Conclusion

The interdisciplinary intervention program may improve health outcomes of elders with hip fracture.

Supporting Evidence

  • The experimental group had significantly better outcomes in bodily pain, vitality, mental health, physical function, and role physical.
  • The benefits of the intervention lasted throughout the first year after discharge.
  • Physical-related health outcomes had larger treatment effects than emotional/mental-related outcomes.

Takeaway

This study shows that a special program for older people who broke their hip can help them feel better and live healthier after surgery.

Methodology

A randomized experimental design was used with older patients with hip fracture assigned to either an experimental or control group, measuring health-related quality of life at multiple time points.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to non-blinding of assessors and randomization method.

Limitations

The study design was single-blinded, lacked baseline HRQOL measures, and excluded patients with severe cognitive impairment.

Participant Demographics

Majority were female (68.5%), average age 78.16 years, with 51.9% married and 48.8% illiterate.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2474-11-225

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