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NCT Number: NCT06902636

Geriatric Trauma Care Program for Living Alone Older Adults With Injuries

To examine the long-term effects of the Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) regarding pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and health-related quality of life among older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone.

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Key information

Conditions

Limb Injury Barthel Index Geriatric Geriatric Depression Loneliness Neurologic Manifestations Older Adults Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Quality of Life Signs and Symptoms

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kaohsiung Medical University Chung Ho Memorial Hospital

Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

Traumatic injuries among older adults represent a significant public health concern due to their potential to severely affect individuals' long-term physical, emotional, and social well-being. Older adults who experience traumatic injuries often face substantial challenges during recovery, particularly those living alone who may lack sufficient support systems, exacerbating their vulnerability to chronic health issues. Pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and diminished health-related quality of life are prevalent adverse outcomes following traumatic injuries, underscoring the critical need for effective, targeted care strategies to address these multidimensional impacts.

The Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) is a nurse practitioner-led, digitalized trauma care program designed to provide comprehensive and accessible intervention aimed at improving immediate trauma care outcomes and facilitating sustainable recovery among older adults. While short-term benefits of digitally supported, geriatric-focused trauma interventions have been documented, the long-term effectiveness of such programs, especially for older individuals who live alone, remains less understood. Consequently, examining the enduring impact of the GTCP is essential to determine its effectiveness in fostering sustained recovery and improving quality of life for this vulnerable population. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the long-term effects of the GTCP on pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and health-related quality of life among older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone. Findings from this research will provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers to enhance care delivery models, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve long-term outcomes for older adults recovering from traumatic injuries.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • willing to join this study for three months
  • with limb injuries
  • living alone in a household
  • aged 65 years old or older
  • independent before a traumatic injury
  • having a smartphone.

Exclusion criteria

  • with an ISS greater than 16 (severe injuries)
  • having cognitive impairments
  • diagnosed with psychiatric illness

Treatment and study plan

Geriatric trauma care program

Behavioral

The experiment group will implement the Geriatric trauma care program (GTCP) and routine care. The GTCP will be implemented by a nurse practitioner and equipped with digitalized educational material, including six units of intervention for older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Time frame: Day 1 at Hospital discharge, 1 month, and 3 months

    Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale with the numbers 0-10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning the worst pain.

  2. Functional disability

    Time frame: Day 1 at Hospital discharge, 1 month, and 3 months

    The Barthel's Index consists of 30 items, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional capacity.

  3. Depression

    Time frame: Day 1 at Hospital discharge, 1 month, and 3 months

    The Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, which comprises 15 items scored on a two-point scale (0 = no, 1 = yes). It scores ranged from 0-15 with the higher indicated the more severe depression symptoms.

  4. Loneliness

    Time frame: Day 1 at Hospital discharge, 1 month, and 3 months

    The Elderly Loneliness Scale has eight items, with a higher score indicating more loneliness.

  5. Health-related quality of life

    Time frame: Day 1 at Hospital discharge, 1 month, and 3 months

    The EuroQol-5D has five items with higher score indicated a worse health condition.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Bih-O Lee, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

07-3121101 ext. 2625

Santo Imanuel Tonapa, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

0981979212

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kaohsiung Medical University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan

Registry information

Official study title

Patient Experience of Older Adults Living Alone With Injuries and Long-Term Effects of Geriatric Trauma Care Program for Living Alone Older Adults With Injuries

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 30, 2025
Registry last updated
May 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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