Use of discussion boards in an online hip fracture resource center for caregivers

Family/caregiver influence on osteoporosis management for older people: an integrative review

An integrative literature review was conducted to understand family/caregiver influence on osteoporosis management for older people. Findings include caregivers' overprotection, caregivers' risks for fragility fractures due to caregiving role, poor bone health in caregivers, and caregivers' burden and facilitators. Caregivers should be included in bone health and discharge planning. Literature on family/caregiver influence on osteoporosis management for older people is sparse. Older people are prone to osteoporosis and fragility fractures due to their age, often triggering the need for a caregiver after experiencing a fragility fracture. These fractures pose significant costs to the patient and health systems and are projected to increase with the aging population. This study applied an integrative literature review methodology to key literature findings on family/caregiver influence on osteoporosis management for older people. Key findings include caregivers' tendency to overprotect persons who experience hip fracture by limiting mobilization, thus impeding recovery, caregivers' risks for their own fragility fractures due to the demands of their caregiving role, risks of poor bone health in caregivers, and caregivers' experience of significant burden for which facilitators have been identified. Family caregivers of older people with osteoporosis have unique needs and require support and resources, especially after their loved one experiences a hip fracture. Informal caregivers must be considered in bone health education and discharge planning. They should be considered in the creation of osteoporosis guidelines and within the work of fracture liaison services. More research is needed to increase understanding about family caregiver influence on osteoporosis management.

Patient-clinician digital health interventions for the hip fracture population: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Older adults with hip fracture often require extensive post-surgery care across multiple sectors, making follow-up care even more important to ensure an ideal recovery. With the increased adoption of technology, patient-clinician digital health interventions can potentially improve post-surgery outcomes of hip fracture patients by helping them and their caregivers better understand the various aspects of their care, post-hip fracture surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the available literature on the impact of hip fracture-specific, patient-clinician digital health interventions on patient outcomes and health care delivery processes. We also aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to the uptake and implementation of these technologies and to provide strategies for improved use of these digital health interventions.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review following the six stages of Arksey and O'Malley's framework and following the PRISMA-ScR reporting format. Searches were conducted in five databases. In addition to hand searching for relevant studies from the references of all included studies, we also conducted a grey literature search to identify relevant primary studies. Screening of titles and abstracts as well as full texts were performed independently by two reviewers. Two reviewers also performed the data extraction of the included studies.

RESULTS

After screening 3,638 records, 20 articles met the criteria and 1 article was identified through hand searching. Various patient-clinician digital health interventions were described including telehealth /telerehabilitation programs (n = 6), care transition /follow-up interventions (n = 5), online resources (n = 2), and wearable devices /sensor monitoring (n = 1). Outcomes were varied and included functional status, gait/mobility, quality of life, psychological factors, satisfaction, survival/complications, caregiver outcomes, compliance, technology-user interactions, and feedback on the use of the digital health interventions. For clinicians, a key barrier to the use of the digital health interventions was the acceptability of the technology. However, the usefulness of the digital health intervention by clinicians was seen as both a barrier and an enabler. For patients and caregivers, all the themes were seen as both a barrier and an enabler depending on the study. These themes included: 1) availability and access, 2) usability, 3) knowledge and skills, 4) acceptability, and 5) usefulness of the digital health intervention.

CONCLUSION

Many behavioural factors affect the use of patient-clinician digital health interventions. However, a specific attention should be focused on the acceptability of the technology by the clinicians to encourage uptake of the digital health interventions. The results of this scoping review can help to better understand the factors that may be targeted to increase the use of these technologies by clinicians, patients, and caregivers.

Behavioral Health Services with Short-Stay Residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Qualitative Study of Clinicians and Administrators

OBJECTIVES

The perspectives of professionals involved in behavioral health (BH) services with short-stay residents in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are rarely captured in the literature. This study examines the real-world experiences of BH clinicians and administrators in post-acute/subacute care units in SNFs.

METHODS

This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 18 clinicians (e.g., psychologists and social workers) and five administrators (e.g., directors of social services or BH company executives) involved in BH services with short-stay SNF residents. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by two independent coders using conventional thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the data: (1) BH needs are high among short-stay residents and families during post-acute care transitions; (2) BH services offer multiple unique opportunities to enhance post-acute/subacute care in SNFs; and (3) barriers to providing optimal BH care exist at multiple levels and require action from BH clinicians and stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS

Variability in clinician roles and barriers to optimized care suggest the need for future research targeting best practices and implementation strategies for BH services with short-stay SNF residents.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Results identified multiple ways in which BH services may enhance resident, family, and staff outcomes, as well as the milieu in SNFs.

Family Caregivers' Experiences with Tele-Rehabilitation for Older Adults with Hip Fracture

Background: There is a knowledge gap for implementing tele-rehabilitation (telerehab) after hip fracture. We recently conducted a clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02968589) to test a novel online family caregiver-supported rehabilitation program for older adults with hip fracture, called @ctivehip. In this qualitative substudy, our objective was to use semi-structured interviews to explore family caregivers experience with the telerehab program. Methods: Twenty-one family caregivers were interviewed between three and six months after the older adults completed @ctivehip. One occupational therapist with research and clinical experience, but not involved in the main trial, conducted and transcribed the interviews. We conducted a multi-step content analysis, and two authors completed one coding cycle and two recoding cycles. Results: Family caregivers who enrolled in @ctivehip were satisfied with the program, stated it was manageable to use, and perceived benefits for older adults’ functional recovery after hip fracture. They also suggested improvements for the program content, such as more variety with exercises, and increased monitoring by health professionals. Conclusions: This work extends existing literature and generates research hypotheses for future studies to test telerehab content and program implementation.

The Journey of Recovery: Caregivers' Perspectives From a Hip Fracture Telerehabilitation Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to explore family caregivers' perspectives of the recovery process of older adults with hip fracture and describe experiences from caregivers who: (1) used the online intervention, or (2) received home-based care provided by the Andalusian Public Health Care System.

METHODS

This was an exploratory secondary study with informal family caregivers who had an older adult family member with hip fracture enrolled in a novel telerehabilitation (telerehab) clinical trial. Forty-four caregivers of older adults with hip fracture were interviewed at 6 to 9 months after their family member's hip fracture.

RESULTS

Caregivers shared concerns of family members' survival and recovery; they recounted increased stress and anxiety due to the uncertainty of new tasks associated with providing care and the impact on their lifestyle. Although most caregivers were satisfied with the health care received, they made suggestions for better organization of hospital discharge and requests for home support. The main reasons why caregivers and their family member chose the telerehab program were to enhance recovery after fracture, gain knowledge for managing at home, and because of the convenience of completing the exercises at home. There were more family caregivers in the control group who expressed a high level of stress and anxiety, and they also requested more social and health services compared with caregivers whose family member received telerehab.

CONCLUSION

Family caregivers are an essential component of recovery after hip fracture by providing emotional and physical support. However, future clinical interventions should evaluate person-centered interventions to mitigate possible stress and anxiety experienced by family caregivers.

IMPACT

Family caregivers' perspectives are necessary in the co-design of management strategies for older adults after hip fracture.

Development and Evaluation of a Post-Hip Fracture Instructional Workshop for Caregivers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A hip fracture is an unexpected traumatic event. Caregivers of patients with an acute hip fracture have only short time to learn the new skills of postoperative care and handling of the patient. This sudden responsibility changes the life of the caregivers who perceive a higher level of preoccupation about the care of their family member/friend. The objective of this study was to develop and test feasibility for a post-hip fracture inpatient instructional workshop for caregivers of older adults with hip fracture and to establish their knowledge of hip fracture recovery and perceptions of the utility and satisfaction with the workshop.

METHODS

This 2-part study was conducted at the University Hospital of Granada, Spain, from September 2016 to April 2017. We invited caregivers of patients (60 years of age or older) hospitalized for a surgically treated fall-related hip fracture to attend an informational and skill development hospital-based workshop (60-90 minutes in duration) on postdischarge management strategies. Following the workshop, we invited caregivers to complete a questionnaire to obtain their knowledge about care after hip fracture and their perceived concerns. Furthermore, we requested that they provide feedback on workshop utility and satisfaction (0-10 points) and suggestions for improving the workshop.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We delivered 42 workshops over an 8 month period. One hundred three caregivers attended the sessions and enrolled in the study, mean (SD) age: 52.1 (12.8) years. Sixty-nine percent of the caregivers were women. Caregivers' main concern was apprehension for delivering physical care to their family member/friend (75%), followed by lack of time (42%). Caregivers who were employed were 3.16 times as likely to be concerned about time availability to provide care for their family member/friend. The median (Q1, Q3) of both workshop utility and satisfaction was 10 (10, 10), minimum-maximum: 7 to 10.

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers in this study stated that the workshop was useful and satisfactory. Because caregivers play such a vital role in recovery after hip fracture, providing knowledge and skill development as part of health care delivery may support more person-centered care.

A Facebook-Based Obesity Prevention Program for Korean American Adolescents: Usability Evaluation

INTRODUCTION

Adolescent obesity is one of the most serious global public health challenges. Social networking sites are currently popular among adolescents. Therefore, the obesity prevention program for Korean American adolescents was developed on the most popular social networking site, Facebook. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of a culturally tailored Facebook-based obesity prevention program for Korean American adolescents (Healthy Teens).

METHOD

An explorative descriptive design of usability testing was used. Usability testing employing one-on-one observation, the think-aloud method, audio taping, screen activity capture, and surveys was performed. Twenty participants were recruited from two Korean language schools (mean age, 15.40 ± 1.50 years). Recruitment and user testing was performed between February and April 2014. Content analysis, using the inductive coding approach, was performed by three coders to analyze transcriptions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data including demographic characteristics, perceived usability, eHealth literacy, and health behaviors.

RESULTS

Testing revealed several usability issues in content, appearance, and navigation. Participants' comments regarding content were positive. Although the Facebook platform provided limited flexibility with respect to building the site, participants described the program's appearance as appropriate. Most participants did not experience difficulty in navigating the program.

DISCUSSION

Our preliminary findings indicated that participants perceived the Healthy Teens program as usable and useful. This program could be used as a robust platform for the delivery of health education to adolescents. Further research is required to assess the effects of Facebook-based programs on adolescent obesity prevention.

Understanding informal carers' experiences of caring for older people with a hip fracture: a systematic review of qualitative studies

PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to reconceptualize experiences from a variety of papers to provide direction for research, policy and practice.

METHOD

Meta-ethnography was used to inform the review, and 21 studies were included.

FINDINGS

The analysis identified a core theme of "engaging in care: struggling through", as carers, who wanted to be involved in caring, learnt to live with the intense and stressful impact of caring and changes to their life. The core theme is represented through three themes (1) Helping another to live, (2) Adapting ways of living and (3) Negotiating the unknown.

CONCLUSIONS

The discussion identified a focus on carers of people suffering from a hip fracture, the willingness of informal carers to engage in caring and the intense experience of adapting to changes in relationships and dependency alongside a steep experiential learning curve. Tensions exist in negotiations with complex health care systems as carers do not feel their expertise is valued and struggle to find and understand information. Implications for Rehabilitation Including relatives/carers in the umbrella of care within a family-centred approach. Involving relatives/carers within shared decision-making about care requirements and rehabilitation goals. Utilizing forms of experiential learning to help the development of relatives/carers skills in relation to their role as carer. Providing opportunities for carers to explore ways of sustaining their own health through self-compassion.

Qualitative Insights from the Osteoporosis Research: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Purpose. Much of the research on osteoporosis has been generated quantitatively. However, the qualitative osteoporosis literature provides valuable information on patient and clinician experiences and perspectives, informing the design and implementation of health research and healthcare services. To identify knowledge gaps and inform the design of future qualitative research, a narrative review was conducted to consolidate and synthesize the existing insights available within the qualitative osteoporosis research. Methods. Search terms reflecting the domains of osteoporosis and qualitative research were entered into the Scopus database to generate a comprehensive survey of qualitative research in the area of osteoporosis. Articles were thematically analysed and the results are presented in the form of a narrative review. Results. Forty-four articles were included in the narrative review. Qualitative research in the field of osteoporosis research can be summarized by 3 thematic areas: the meaning of osteoporosis for patients and the public, the lived experience of an osteoporosis diagnosis, and the programmatic approach to osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Conclusions. Qualitative studies provide clinically valuable insights in how osteoporosis is conceptualized and managed and programmatic aspects of osteoporosis treatment. The findings of this narrative review suggest the need for balance between presenting osteoporosis as a serious health condition and producing unwarranted anxiety and inactivity so as to ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals with osteoporosis.