MoHIP

Background

Hip fractures are a serious problem in older adults, with approximately 80 000 people per year sustaining a fractured hip in the UK and increased numbers expected in the future.

Fracturing a hip often leads to a decreased quality of life and is associated with an increased risk of death. However, people who are able to be more active while recovering at home from hip fracture surgery tend to have a better recovery. People who are up and about during recovery need less care overall, and are better able to recover their normal life functions (things like dressing and bathing themselves or getting out to see friends and family).

Although some research has been done to see how active people are during recovery, this has tended to be collected by self-report or only measured at long intervals. There is a need for more specific information about how, when and where people move around during the period of recovery from a hip fracture as they move from hospital to the community, and what factors would be likely to help them become more active.

This study used wearable technology in the form of a small activity monitor to track peoples’ activity during recovery from a hip fracture to find out what types of activity might improve outcomes, and what factors encourage movement during recovery.

MoHIP is looking at the mobility of hip fracture patients during their recovery

Study Design

A group of patients who have just had surgery for a hip fracture were recruited into the study. They were asked to wear a small activity monitor around their neck for sixteen weeks during their recovery at home, and to fill out some brief questionnaires.

Data collected on activity the data collected was anonymous and linked to participants by researchers using a study identifier.

A researcher checked in with the participants every month to see how their recovery was going and find out about their experiences of wearing the monitor.

A small activity monitor will be used to study patient activity during recovery from hip fracture

Future Directions

This was a pilot study to examine the feasibility of wearing an activity monitor during recovery from a hip fracture. In the future, we may be able to use this type of monitoring technology as an intervention to encourage people to be more active while they recover. This study may also help us understand what factors lead people to be less active so we can develop interventions that might predict who will need extra help during recovery.

Current Status

This stud finished recruiting in October 2019. We aim to publish results in 2020.