A Pilot Investigation of the Short-Term Effects of an Interdisciplinary Intervention Program on Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture in Taiwan

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