Acknowledging the Trauma and Connecting With the Human Spirit After Hip Fracture: A Qualitative Study.

AIM: To gain insights into the hip fracture recovery journey with a focus on discharge and follow-up interventions through exploration of the lived experience of people post hip fracture, advanced practice nurses and practice nurses.

DESIGN

An interpretive descriptive methodology was used to guide this qualitative study, underpinned by the Health Empowerment theoretical framework.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted from March to October 2021, eliciting the experiences of recovery from people post-hip fracture, advanced practice nurses, and practice nurses. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was applied to the data.

RESULTS

Thirteen participants comprising people post-hip fracture, advanced practice nurses, and practice nurses were interviewed. Connecting with the Human Spirit was a major theme identified, and the Health Empowerment Conceptual Model was developed to represent the care components highlighted within this theme.

CONCLUSION

Connecting with the Human Spirit was an important finding which incorporated acknowledging the trauma of hip fracture and supported open and honest communication to empower people to actively participate in their recovery. The Health Empowerment Conceptual Model draws together important findings, highlighting the care people post-hip fracture and nurses valued, and the support, education and understanding needed to recover underpinned by an empowerment approach.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The Health Empowerment Conceptual Model supports an empowered approach to policy and practice development of nurse-led models of care to effectively manage patients post-hip fracture across the care continuum.

IMPACT: This study addressed the recovery experiences post-hip fracture. Connecting with the Human Spirit was a major theme, with care component findings informing the Health Empowerment Conceptual Model to support an empowered recovery. Research supports policy and practice development for nurse-led models for health services, clinicians, and people affected by hip fracture.

REPORTING METHOD: Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The experiences of people post-hip fracture, advanced practice nurses, and practice nurses were elicited in this study.