'Rehabilitation for Life'

Despite implementing hospital quality programs after hip fracture surgery older adults often experience a decline in the level of physical function, reduced quality of life; and the mortality and readmission rates are high.

Early mobilization is important in order to prevent loss of muscle mass; however to prevent morbidity an early start of strength training is also necessary. Furthermore, the risk of complications, morbidity, and mortality are associated with insufficient management of pain.

The project aims to examine the effect of measuring vital signs and consistent rehabilitation in the primary and secondary sectors in older adults after hip fracture surgery.

Method/ design:

The study is a cluster-randomized stepped wedge study. Participants will be recruited among patients admitted to an orthogeriatric ward who are 65 years of age or older and citizens in one of six municipalities. Participants are also the health professionals in the orthogeriatric ward and the six municipalities.

The six municipalities form six clusters, which are randomized, and every three-month one cluster cross from control to intervention.

The study compares usual practice (control) to an intervention named 'Rehabilitation of Life'. An intervention best described as an empowerment-oriented cross-sectorial program including vital sign measurement and systematic progressive rehabilitation and combined with convenient access for collaboration among professionals.

Primary outcomes: Timed Up and Go (TUG) measured 2 months after the time of operation.

The investigators hypothesize that 'Rehabilitation of Life' for older adults with a hip fracture will result in a significant reduced TUG-score in comparison to a practice not offering 'Rehabilitation of Life'.

And as the study is organised across two sectors, the Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS) makes a second primary outcome. It is hypothesised that patients in the intervention group will achieve a significantly reduced TUG score compared to usual care.