Effect of continuous nursing on rehabilitation of older patients with joint replacement after discharge

Abstract

Background: Joint replacement is a common treatment for older patients with high incidences of hip joint diseases. However, postoperative recovery is slow and complications are common, which reduces surgical effectiveness. Therefore, patients require long-term, high-quality, and effective nursing interventions to promote rehabilitation. Continuity of care has been used successfully in other diseases; however, little research has been conducted on older patients who have undergone hip replacement.

Aim: To explore the clinical effect of continuous nursing on rehabilitation after discharge of older individuals who have undergone joint replacement.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 113 elderly patients. Patients receiving routine nursing were included in the convention group (n = 60), and those receiving continuous nursing, according to various methods, were included in the continuation group (n = 53). Harris score, short form 36 (SF-36) score, complication rate, and readmission rate were compared between the convention and continuation groups.

Results: After discharge, Harris and SF-36 scores of the continuation group were higher than those of the convention group. The Harris and SF-36 scores of the two groups showed an increasing trend with time, and there was an interaction effect between group and time (Harris score: F _{intergroup effect} = 376.500, F _{time effect} = 20.090, F _{interaction effect} = 4.824; SF-36 score: F _{intergroup effect} = 236.200, F _{time effect} = 16.710, F _{interaction effect} = 5.584; all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the total complication and readmission rates in the continuation group were lower (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Continuous nursing could significantly improve hip function and quality of life in older patients after joint replacement and reduce the incidence of complications and readmission rates.

Keywords: Continuous nursing; Discharge; Effect; Joint replacement; Older adults; Rehabilitation.