Is a telerehabilitation programme for older adults with hip fracture associated with burden of family caregivers who provide support?

María Fernández-González; Mario Lozano-Lozano; Lydia Martín-Martín; Mariana Ortiz-Piña; Miguel Martín-Matillas; Patrocinio Ariza-Vega

doi:10.1177/20552076231213574

Is a telerehabilitation programme for older adults with hip fracture associated with burden of family caregivers who provide support?

Digit Health. 2023 Nov 17:9:20552076231213574. doi: 10.1177/20552076231213574. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

María Fernández-González¹, Mario Lozano-Lozano^{1

2

3}, Lydia Martín-Martín^{1

2

3}, Mariana Ortiz-Piña¹, Miguel Martín-Matillas⁴, Patrocinio Ariza-Vega^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
² Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.
³ "Cuídate" Support Unit for Oncology Patients, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Granada, Spain.
⁴ PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
⁵ PA-HELP "Physical Activity for HEaLth Promotion" Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.

Abstract

Objective: @ctivehip is a home-based multidisciplinary telerehabilitation programme for older adults with hip fracture, conducted with the assistance of their family caregivers. This programme was useful in improving their functional recovery. Nevertheless, we were concerned about how the programme might have affected caregivers, whose assistance was essential for supporting older adults in using new technologies and ensuring their safety during the exercises and activities at home. The aim of the present study was to compare the burden, psychological factors and physical fitness of the family caregivers of older adults who opted the @ctivehip telerehabilitation programme versus those family caregivers of older adults who received the face-to-face rehabilitation provided by the Andalusian Public Healthcare System (in Spain).

Methods: In this single-blinded, non-randomized clinical trial, participants were older adults with hip fracture and their family caregivers. The telerehabilitation group (n = 30) underwent a 12-week multidisciplinary telerehabilitation programme, and the comparative group (n = 32) received face-to-face rehabilitation. Caregivers outcomes measured were (i) the burden using the Zarit Burden Interview, (ii) the anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and (iii) the Physical Fitness with the International Fitness Scale (IFIS).

Results: There were not statistically significant differences on caregiver burden between family caregivers in the @ctivehip and the comparative group, although there was a trend towards lower values [[Mean (95%CI); 14.73 (9.09 to 20.37) vs 16.03 (10.63 to 21.43); p = 0.771] as well as for anxiety and depression [5.66 (3.21 to 8.78) vs 11.19 (8.52 to 13.86); p = 0.022]. Likewise achieved better, though not statistically significant, scores in physical fitness [19.37 (17.94 to 20.81) vs 17.15 (15.77 to 18.53); p = 0.055].

Conclusion: Caregiver burden is not associated with telerehabilitation. In addition, telerehabilitation is associated with lower anxiety and depression levels among family caregivers who opt for this programme. Physical fitness is not related with telerehabilitation.

Keywords: Hip fracture; caregiver burden; older people family caregivers; osteoporosis; telerehabilitation.