Nursing intervention by telephone interviews of patients aged over 65 years after total hip replacement improves health status: a randomised clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesised that all areas of health status after total hip replacement could be improved in patients aged over 65 years and over by using telephone support and counselling 2 and 10 weeks after surgery compared with a control group receiving conventional care and treatment. DESIGN: A randomised clinical trial focusing on patients' health status by using short-form 36 at 4 weeks preoperatively and 3 and 9 months postoperatively was carried out. SAMPLE: 180 patients aged 65 years and over were randomised 4 weeks preoperatively to either control or intervention groups. MEASUREMENTS: both groups received conventional surgical treatment, but the intervention group was interviewed by telephone 2 and 10 weeks after surgery. Patients were given counselling within eight main dimensions with reference to their postoperative situation. RESULTS: All patients experienced improvement in health status. The intervention significantly reduced the time patients needed to reach their habitual levels in three of eight areas of their health status: the intervention patients reached their habitual levels at 3 months whereas the control patients reached theirs after 9 months. CONCLUSION: Intervention by telephone support and counselling in the postoperative phase seems to benefit patients' improvement in health status.