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Objectives: To evaluate an interdisciplinary intervention program for older people with hip fracture in Taiwan. Design: Randomized experimental design. Setting: A 3,800‐bed medical center in northern Taiwan. Participants: Elderly patients with hip fracture (N=137) were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=68) or control (n=69) group. Intervention: An interdisciplinary program of geriatric consultation, continuous rehabilitation, and discharge planning. Measurements: Demographic and outcome variables were measured. Outcome variables included service utilization, clinical outcomes, self‐care abilities, health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQOL) outcomes, and depressive symptoms. Results: Subjects in the experimental group improved significantly more than those in the control group in the following outcomes: ratio of hip flexion 1 month after discharge ( P= .02), recovery of previous walking ability at 1 month ( P= .04) and 3 months ( P= .001) after discharge, and activities of daily living at 1 month ( P= .01) and 2 months ( P= .001) after discharge. Three months after discharge, the experimental group showed significant improvement in peak force of the fractured limb's quadriceps ( P= .04) and the following health outcomes: bodily pain ( P= .03), vitality ( P <.001), mental health ( P= .02), physical function ( P < .001), and role physical ( P= .006). They also had fewer depressive symptoms ( P= .008) 3 months after discharge. Conclusion: This intervention program may benefit older people with hip fractures in Taiwan by improving their clinical outcomes, self‐care abilities, and HRQOL and by decreasing depressive symptoms within 3 months after discharge.
Shyu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.