Longitudinal Study on Transitional Care Needs of Elderly Patients After Total Hip Arthroplasty Discharge

Abstract

Objective: To longitudinally explore the level of transitional care needs in elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and analyze its influencing factors. Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, patients who underwent THA in three Grade III-A general hospitals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2024 to October 2024 were selected as the study subjects. A general information questionnaire and a self-developed transitional care needs scale for elderly THA patients were used to conduct surveys at 1 month and 3 months post-discharge. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was employed to compare the differences in transitional care needs scores among elderly THA patients at different time points, followed by pairwise comparisons. Results: The time-point effect results showed that the demand scores of patients at one month and three months after discharge were 113.39±18.48 and 109.32±12.88, respectively. The total scores of transitional care needs at one month and three months after discharge showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Over time, the transitional care needs of elderly patients showed a declining trend. The main effect analysis results indicated that age (F=4.381, P=0.014), gender (F=6.562, P=0.011), living situation (F=8.087, P<0.001), preoperative use of assistive devices such as crutches (F=9.619, P=0.002), and presence of comorbid diseases (F=6.835, P=0.010) significantly influenced the total score of patients' transitional care needs at discharge (P<0.05). The interaction effect results showed that the interaction between time points and preoperative use of assistive devices (F=5.534, P=0.019) and living situation (F=3.608, P=0.029) were significant, affecting the total score of patients' transitional care needs at discharge (P<0.05). Conclusion: The transitional care needs of elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty show a declining trend over time. Factors influencing the transitional care needs of these patients in this study include age, gender, living situation, use of assistive devices such as crutches, and the presence of comorbid conditions. The highest level of care needs was observed one month post-discharge. Therefore, healthcare professionals should pay particular attention to the one-month post-discharge period and assess the patients' needs based on different demographic characteristics.