Communication for Early Mobilisation of People Living With Dementia Following Surgery for Hip Fracture

NCT07418268 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 25055NIHR208740
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This goal of this study is to identify ways that healthcare professionals communicate that are effective in helping a person living with dementia to stand or walk after surgery for a broken hip (hip fracture). We aim to identify 'what works' in successfully helping people with dementia to mobilise early, and share this in practice. The main question the research aims to answer is: What healthcare professional communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia following hip fracture surgery? We will use a research method called 'Conversation Analysis', to look at the fine detail of the language healthcare professionals use and responses to it. We will make video recordings of real-life ward care, when healthcare staff are trying to help a person with dementia get up early after hip fracture surgery. We will involve people with dementia in decisions to take part and get agreement from their families before we record anything. We have done this successfully in two previous studies. We will record up to 50 episodes of care on three trauma orthopaedic wards. We will identify specific, practical recommendations and 'teachable' approaches: ways of speaking, or sequences of requests or instructions. We will work with people with dementia, family carers, educators and clinicians to do this. We will use clips of videos in future communication training.

Conditions

Dementia; Hip Fracture; Early Mobilisation; Communication Research; Communication; Communication Skills; Rehabilitation Frail Elderly Subjects; Rehabilitation Strategies for Elderly Post-operative Patients

Keywords

Dementia; Hip fracture; Early mobilisation; Conversation analysis; Communication; Surgery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Qualitative research

  Conversation analysis

  1 year

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients, healthcare professionals, relatives/friends on 3 trauma orthopaedic wards at one acute hospital

You may qualify if:

• Patient participants will:
• have a documented diagnosis of dementia
• be either waiting for hip fracture surgery or have had hip fracture surgery within the previous 7 days
• have someone who can act as their personal consultee, in case they are assessed as lacking capacity during the study.
• HCP participants will:
• be registered, student or assistant healthcare practitioners
• be involved in assessing, supporting or encouraging PLWD to mobilise post-hip fracture surgery
• work on the relevant wards
• Relative and friend participants will:
• Be visiting a consented patient at a time when an appropriate recording with consented HCPs will take place
• Be a relative or friend of the consented patient who might normally be present during attempts to mobilise the patient after surgery

You may not qualify if:

• Patients will be excluded if we are unable to gain informed consent or consultee agreement, or if they are expected to die within 7 days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nottingham: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dementia; Hip Fractures; Communication

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Femoral Fractures; Fractures, Bone; Wounds and Injuries; Hip Injuries; Leg Injuries; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 10, 2026
• First Posted: February 18, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share