HIP HELPER
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to assess the design of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a caregiving intervention for people following hip fracture surgery
IRAS ID
287314
Contact name
Toby Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13270387
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND: A broken hip (hip fracture) is a common injury in older people. Not all people recover well, with most people less mobile and less independent afterwards. Family members or friends often take on roles as caregivers, helping in tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking and shopping, once their relative or friend is home from hospital. Unfortunately caregivers are often under-prepared to do this. They are left to work out what to do themselves, and often ask the patient to do less than they could do for fear of causing harm. This can create stress for patients and caregivers and may mean that patients do not recover as well as or as quickly as possible. A training programme to guide caregivers on what to do before patients are discharged home could solve many of these problems and improve outcomes.
AIM: To conduct a feasibility study to see if a caregiver training programme, designed by health professionals and patients, can be provided in an NHS setting following hip fracture surgery, and how a future trial may be designed.
DESIGN AND METHODS: This feasibility study comprises of a small trial and qualitative (interview) study. We will test this training programme and project design in a small way to see if it works, and if not, what needs to change. We will recruit 60 patients and their caregivers (120 people). Half will receive the new training programme PLUS standard NHS care, the other half will only receive standard NHS care. The training programme is 3, 1-hour face- to-face sessions where a nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist will talk about the patient’s expected recovery plan, will show the caregiver how to help the patient get out of bed or a chair and how to use walking aids. The caregiver will be shown exercises for patients to do to help recovery. This will be supported with 3 telephone calls and a workbook with activities for both the patient and caregiver. We will collect information on how well the project design worked in recruiting people, providing the training programme and collecting data. We will interview patients, caregivers and health professionals to see their views on the study.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0213
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion