title: Evaluating recovery following hip fracture: a qualitative interview study of what is important to patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore what patients consider important when evaluating their recovery from hip fracture and to consider how these priorities could be used in the evaluation of the quality of hip fracture services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews exploring the experience of recovery from hip fracture at two time points-4 weeks and 4 months postoperative hip fixation. Two approaches to analysis: thematic analysis of data specifically related to recovery from hip fracture; summarising the participant's experience overall.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 participants were recruited, of whom 20 were women and 12 were cognitively impaired. Mean age was 81.5 years. Interviews were provided by 19 patients, 14 carers and 8 patient/carer dyad; 10 participants were interviewed twice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single major trauma centre in the West Midlands of the UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stable mobility (without falls or fear of falls) for valued activities was considered most important by participants who had some prefracture mobility and were able to articulate what they valued during recovery. Mobility was important for managing personal care, for day-to-day activities such as shopping and gardening, and for maintenance of mental well-being. Some participants used assistive mobility devices or adapted to their limitations. Others maintained their previous limited function through increased care provision. Many participants were unable to articulate what they valued as hip fracture was perceived as part of their decline with age. The fracture and problems from other health conditions were an inseparable part of one health experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prefracture mobility, adaptations to reduced mobility before or after fracture, and whether or not patients perceive themselves to be declining with age influence what patients consider important during recovery from hip fracture. No single patient-reported outcome measure could evaluate quality of care for all patients following hip fracture. General health-related quality of life tools may provide useful information within clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.affiliation: Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dennick
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick, UK.
authors.forename: Kirstie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haywood
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Juul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Achten
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
keywords: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH