Developing an individualised cross-sectoral programme based on activities of daily living to support rehabilitation of older adults with hip fracture: a qualitative study

HIP Fracture REhabilitation Program for older adults with hip fracture (HIP-REP) based on activity of daily living: a feasibility study

Background

A Rehabilitation Program for older adults with hip fracture (HIP-REP) based on Activity of Daily Living has been developed. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility and safety of the HIP-REP program to inform a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

A feasibility study Inspired by the Complex-intervention development (Medical Research Council framework phase II) design using quantitative and qualitative research methods were conducted. Eighteen participants (above 65 years) with hip fracture were recruited from the orthopedic wards. The setting was cross sectoral including Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte and rehabilitation centers in Herlev, Gentofte and Lyngby-Taarbæk municipalities. A cross-sectoral rehabilitation intervention tailored to the needs of older adults with hip fracture highlighting systematic goal setting and strategies focused on activities of daily living was conducted. Pre-defined feasibility criteria: participants recruitment and retention, duration of measuring the outcome, adherence to intervention, and adverse events, along with self-reported outcomes and an objective measurement of performance in activity of daily living. Focus groups were analyzed using a deductive manifest content analysis approach. Descriptive statistical analysis and paired t-tests were performed for assessing change in outcome measures.

Results

Recruitment rate was 4.5/month. Outcome measures were performed but length and number of questionnaires were a burden. Thirteen out of eighteen participants completed the study three dropped out and two died. Adherence among the 13 was 100%. Focus group revealed issues regarding coordinating the intervention, ensuring procedural processes across sectors regarding recruitment of participants, and documentation in the database. Participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention and felt safe during intervention. Assessment of Motor and Process Skills showed better increase between (range 0.4 to 1.6) in ADL motor ability measures and better increase between (range 0.4 to 0.7) for process ability. No clear association between outcome improvements and intervention adherence.

Conclusions

The cross-sectoral intervention based on daily activities was feasible and safe for older adults with hip fracture. A future RCT, with an improved recruitment strategy and reduced number of outcome measures will evaluate the effectiveness in improving independence and safety performance of activity of daily living.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03828240. Registered on January 29, 2019.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03039-x.

Multidisciplinary team healthcare professionals' perceptions of current and optimal acute rehabilitation, a hip fracture example A UK qualitative interview study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework

OBJECTIVE

To understand multidisciplinary team healthcare professionals' perceptions of current and optimal provision of acute rehabilitation, perceived facilitators and barriers to implementation, and their implications for patient recovery, using hip fracture as an example.

METHODS

A qualitative design was adopted using semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 members of the acute multidisciplinary healthcare team (occupational therapists, physiotherapists, physicians, nurses) working on orthopaedic wards at 15 different hospitals across the UK. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, and then thematically analysed drawing on the Theoretical Domains Framework to enhance our understanding of the findings.

RESULTS

We identified four themes: conceptualising a model of rehabilitative practice, which reflected the perceived variability of rehabilitation models, along with facilitators and common patient and organisational barriers for optimal rehabilitation; competing professional and organisational goals, which highlighted the reported incompatibility between organisational goals and person-centred care shaping rehabilitation practices, particularly for more vulnerable patients; engaging teams in collaborative practice, which related to the expressed need to work well with all members of the multidisciplinary team to achieve the same person-centred goals and share rehabilitation practices; and engaging patients and their carers, highlighting the importance of their involvement to achieve a holistic and collaborative approach to rehabilitation in the acute setting. Barriers and facilitators within themes were underpinned by the lack or presence of adequate ways of communicating with patients, carers, and multidisciplinary team members; resources (e.g. equipment, staffing, group classes), and support from people in leadership positions such as management and senior staff.

CONCLUSIONS

Cornerstones of optimal acute rehabilitation are effective communication and collaborative practices between the multidisciplinary team, patients and carers. Supportive management and leadership are central to optimise these processes. Organisational constraints are the most commonly perceived barrier to delivering effective rehabilitation in hospital settings, which exacerbate silo working and limited patient engagement.