Patient and clinician experiences of telephone-based counselling to support recovery after hip fracture: a qualitative analysis

PURPOSE: To explore patient and clinician perspectives of telephone-based, behaviour change counselling to support recovery after hip fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth interviews of 20 patients an average of 2.5 years after hip fracture and 6 clinicians were analysed within an interpretive description framework. Patient participants had taken part in a trial during their recovery from hip fracture. They received 10 sessions of telephone-based counselling in one of two forms: motivational interviewing focused on physical activity or advice-based support on nutrition. Clinician participants were involved in usual-care rehabilitation and trial recruitment. RESULTS: Patients reported excellent physical recovery after hip fracture but had lingering psychosocial impacts. Telephone-based counselling, whether motivational interviewing or dietary advice, was perceived by most patients to provide psychosocial support through establishing a strong therapeutic connection. Patients also said they received support from family and caring health professionals; however, not everyone had access to this type of support. Patients and clinicians suggested integrating a personalised approach such as telephone-based counselling into routine rehabilitation to address psychosocial needs after hip fracture. CONCLUSION: Telephone-based counselling was perceived as beneficial during hip fracture recovery by patients and clinicians and could be a feasible means to provide psychosocial support after hip fracture.