Background: Hip fracture is a common injury in the geriatric population. Despite surgical repair and subsequent rehabilitation programmes, functional recovery is often limited, particularly in... Show moreBackground: Hip fracture is a common injury in the geriatric population. Despite surgical repair and subsequent rehabilitation programmes, functional recovery is often limited, particularly in individuals with multi-morbidity. This leads to high care dependency and subsequent use of healthcare services. Fear of falling has a negative influence on recovery after hip fracture, due to avoidance of activity and subsequent restriction in mobility. Although fear of falling is highly prevalent after hip fracture, no structured treatment programme is currently available. This trial will evaluate whether targeted treatment of fear of falling in geriatric rehabilitation after hip fracture using a multi-component cognitive behavioural intervention (FIT-HIP), is feasible and (cost) effective in reducing fear of falling and associated activity restriction and thereby improves physical functioning.Methods/design: This multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted among older patients with hip fracture and fear of falling who are admitted to a multidisciplinary inpatient geriatric rehabilitation programme in eleven post-acute geriatric rehabilitation units. Fifteen participants will be recruited from each site. Recruitment sites will be allocated by computer randomisation to either the control group, receiving usual care, or to the intervention group receiving the FIT-HIP intervention in addition to usual care. The FIT-HIP intervention is conducted by physiotherapists and will be embedded in usual care. It consists of various elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, including guided exposure to feared activities (that are avoided by the participants). Participants and outcome assessors are blinded to group allocation. Follow-up measurements will be performed at 3 and 6 months after discharge from geriatric rehabilitation. (Cost)-effectiveness and feasibility of the intervention will be evaluated. Primary outcome measures are fear of falling and mobility.Discussion: Targeted treatment of fear of falling may improve recovery and physical and social functioning after hip fracture, thereby offering benefits for patients and reducing healthcare costs. Results of this study will provide insight into whether fear of falling is modifiable in the (geriatric) rehabilitation after hip fracture and whether the intervention is feasible.Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register: NTR 5695 Show less
BACKGROUND: Pain in nursing home residents with advanced dementia remains a major challenge; it is difficult to detect and may be expressed as challenging behavior. STA OP! aims to identify... Show moreBACKGROUND: Pain in nursing home residents with advanced dementia remains a major challenge; it is difficult to detect and may be expressed as challenging behavior. STA OP! aims to identify physical and other needs as causes of behavioral changes and uses a stepwise approach for psychosocial and pharmacological management which was effective in improving challenging behavior.AIM: To assess whether implementation of the stepwise multidisciplinary intervention also reduces pain and improves pain management.DESIGN: In a cluster randomized controlled trial (Netherlands National Trial Register NTR1967), healthcare professionals of intervention units received the stepwise training, while training of the control group focused on knowledge and skills without the stepwise component. Observed and estimated pain was assessed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Logistic generalized estimating equations were used to test treatment and time effects.SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 21 clusters (single nursing home units) in 12 Dutch nursing homes included 288 residents with advanced dementia (Global Deterioration Scale score 5, 6, or 7): 148 in the intervention and 140 in the control condition.RESULTS: The multilevel modeling showed an overall effect of the intervention on observed pain but not on estimated pain; Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate-Dutch version, mean difference: -1.21 points (95% confidence interval: -2.35 to -0.06); Minimum Dataset of the Resident Assessment Instrument pain scale, mean difference: -0.01 points (95% confidence interval: -0.36 to 0.35). Opioid use increased (odds ratio = 3.08; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-8.74); paracetamol use did not (odds ratio = 1.38; 95% confidence interval: 0.71-2.68).CONCLUSION: STA OP! was found to decrease "observed" pain but not estimated pain. Observing pain-related behavior might help improve pain management in dementia.KEYWORDS: Pain; dementia; nursing homes; pain management; randomized controlled trial Show less
