This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

Digital Health Reviews (1289) mHealth for Telemedicine and Homecare (399) Telehealth and Telemonitoring (1671) Home Care (170) Physical Activity for Older People (179) Postoperative Monitoring and Telemonitoring (123) mHealth for Rehabilitation (263) Orthopedics (65)

Published on in Vol 26 (2024)

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/49482, first published .
Characteristics and Effects of Home-Based Digital Health Interventions on Functional Outcomes in Older Patients With Hip Fractures After Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Characteristics and Effects of Home-Based Digital Health Interventions on Functional Outcomes in Older Patients With Hip Fractures After Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Characteristics and Effects of Home-Based Digital Health Interventions on Functional Outcomes in Older Patients With Hip Fractures After Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors of this article:

Suphawita Pliannuom1, 2 Author Orcid Image ;   Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish1, 2 Author Orcid Image ;   Nida Buawangpong1, 2 Author Orcid Image ;   Nutchar Wiwatkunupakarn1, 2 Author Orcid Image ;   Poppy Alice Carson Mallinson3 Author Orcid Image ;   Wichuda Jiraporncharoen1, 2 Author Orcid Image ;   Chaisiri Angkurawaranon1, 2 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations (7) Metrics

    Review

    1Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    2Global Health and Chronic Conditions Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    3Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

    Corresponding Author:

    Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish, MD, PhD

    Department of Family Medicine

    Faculty of Medicine

    Chiang Mai University

    110 Inthawarorot Rd., Sriphum, Muang

    Chiang Mai, 50200

    Thailand

    Phone: 66 53935462

    Email: kanokporn.pinyopo@cmu.ac.th


    Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) have been used to improve postoperative functional ability in older patients with hip fractures. However, there is limited information on the characteristics of home-based DHIs, and controversy exists regarding their impact on functional outcomes in this population.

    Objective: This study aims to provide an overview of the characteristics and effects of home-based DHIs on functional outcomes in older patients with hip fractures after surgery.

    Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Five electronic medical databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, and CINAHL) were searched up until January 3, 2023. We included clinical trials or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English involving home-based DHIs for postoperative care among older patients with hip fractures. Excluded studies involved patients not hospitalized, not discharged to home, not directly using DHIs, or with inaccessible full text. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022370550. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data (SP and NB). Disagreements were resolved through discussion and agreement with the third author (KP). Home-based DHIs were characterized in terms of purpose and content, mode of delivery, and health care provider. Functional outcomes assessed included Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Summary measures were calculated using mean differences with 95% CIs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk-of-Bias 2 assessment tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I for non-RCTs. The quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).

    Results: Of 2125 identified studies, 16 were included in the systematic review, involving 1467 participants. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis (4 for TUG, 4 for SPPB, and 2 for FIM). Home-based DHIs predominantly involved communication and feedback, education, and telerehabilitation. Telephone calls were the most common mode of delivery, followed by web-based software and mobile apps. Physical therapists were the main health care providers. The meta-analysis showed that home-based DHIs improved functional outcomes compared with usual care, with decreased TUG scores (mean difference=–7.89; 95% CI –10.34 to –5.45; P<.001), significantly increased SPPB scores (mean difference=1.11; 95% CI 0.51-1.72; P<.001), and increased FIM scores (mean difference=7.98; 95% CI 5.73-10.24; P<.001).

    Conclusions: Home-based DHIs that integrate communication and feedback, education, and telerehabilitation have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing functional outcomes among older patients recovering from hip fractures after surgery. These interventions are commonly administered by physical therapists, who play a crucial role in facilitating and guiding the rehabilitation process. However, while the existing evidence supports the efficacy of such interventions, further research is needed to enhance our understanding and optimize the implementation of home-based DHIs for this specific population.

    J Med Internet Res 2024;26:e49482

    doi:10.2196/49482

    Keywords

    home-based intervention; digital health interventions; postoperative care; older adults; hip fracture 


    Hip fractures are a common and serious health issue [1-3], ranking among the top 10 causes of disability among older individuals [4]. The global prevalence is increasing, particularly among Asian people, who have the highest rate of hip fractures [4]. The mortality rate after they receive aggressive management in both surgery and rehabilitation is high, 10% in the first month [2,4] and 12%-36% in the first year [4,5]. Moreover, they have many consequences including functional decline [1], fear of falling [6], and reduced quality of life [2,4,5], and can lead to caregiver burden [1].

    Apart from early surgery that can reduce mortality [7], the postoperative or transitional care after hospital discharge to home is also a crucial phase in the care process for patients with hip fracture [8]. The goal of treatment in this population is to improve functional outcomes, enhance independence, and reduce the risk of recurrent falls following surgery. Several home-based interventions, such as rehabilitation [5,9], dietary supplementation to prevent calorie and protein malnutrition [5], home hazard modification [5], fall prevention guidance [5,10], and timely and appropriate patient follow-up (including telephone calls and home visits) [5], as well as patient, family, and caregiver education and support [11], have been found beneficial in postoperative care among older patients with hip fractures. These interventions play a crucial role in improving patient functional ability, enhancing quality of life, reducing unplanned readmissions, minimizing complications and disabilities, and decreasing mortality [12].

    Previous research found that combining postsurgical interventions for patients with fragility hip fractures across inpatient and outpatient settings may be able to improve physical function recovery and discovered that 63% of the studies were related to rehabilitation or medication or nutrition supplementation [13].

    Over the past couple of decades, advancements in information and communication technologies have brought medical services to virtually all corners of the world [14]. Digital health interventions (DHIs) or the use of digital technology for health [15] has become a field of practice for using routine and innovative forms of information and communication technologies to address health needs [15]. DHIs have the potential to help address problems such as distance and access [15] and have been incrementally changing. DHIs do not only assist health care providers and patients receiving treatment but also benefit perfectly healthy people by providing health assessment [14] and health promotion. A recent review of home-based exercise programs delivered through DHIs for community-dwelling adults older than 65 years, involving a diverse study population with various health conditions, demonstrated improved physical function, particularly in terms of lower extremity strength [16]. Furthermore, many DHIs are specifically designed to detect, monitor, and provide care for specific health conditions [17], aiming to enhance various health aspects at home, even among older patients with hip fractures [18,19]. Previous studies have explored various types of home-based DHIs [18,19] with a focus on different interventions, such as rehabilitation, nutrition, and fall prevention, as well as different outcomes, including functional improvements, adherence to protocols, and the incidence of recurrent falls [9,19,20]. Typically, these previous studies have provided interventions to improve functional outcomes, and many of them have achieved success [16,19,21,22].

    The scoping review elucidates the characteristics of DHIs for older adults who have undergone hip fracture surgery, with most studies focusing on physical therapy [23]. These DHIs were typically implemented in acute hospital settings and rehabilitation centers. However, there is a notable lack of information regarding DHIs specifically designed to improve functional outcomes in this population during transitional care settings. As a result, information on the characteristics of home-based DHIs in postoperative care among older patients with hip fractures is currently sparse, and there is a lack of information about specific home-based DHIs for this population [24]. Moreover, there is controversy over the conclusion that home-based DHIs have an impact on functional outcomes. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a general overview of the characteristics and effects of home-based DHIs in postoperative care on functional outcomes among older patients with hip fractures. This will lead to the development of home-based DHIs that can provide care for this population.


    Ethical Considerations

    We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and then reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines (Multimedia Appendix 1) [25]. This study was approved by the Chiang Mai University Ethics Committee (FAM-2565-09330) and we registered our protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42022370550).

    Recruitment

    Review Eligibility Criteria

    We included the studies that related to (1) older adults (including patients aged 60 years or older) with hip fractures defined as any type of hip fracture, such as femoral neck, intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric fracture, and nonspecified type of hip fracture; (2) postoperative care (including transitional care, postdischarge care, and subacute care); and (3) home-based DHIs. In addition, the included studies that had (4) study design limited to clinical trials or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and (5) compared between home-based DHIs (intervention) and usual care (comparator) in the English language with no date restriction. The following studies were excluded: patients enrolled in the emergency department but not admitted to the hospital, patients discharged from the hospital to a setting other than home, studies that involved DHIs that did not directly intervene with patients (including database management), and studies with inaccessible full-text or insufficient data for evaluating the characteristics of DHIs or quantitative synthesis.

    Search Strategies

    This study was systematically searched in 5 electronic medical databases, that is, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, ProQuest, and CINAHL, with no date restriction. We searched until January 3, 2023. We searched in 3 heading terms including “hip fracture” AND “digital health” AND “post-operative” (Table S1 in Multimedia Appendix 2).

    Review Selection

    Duplicates were removed automatically by the EndNote X9 program (Clarivate Analytics) and the Rayyan website, as well as manually by SP and NB. Then, 2 authors (SP and NW) independently reviewed and screened all studies in title and abstract for study eligibility and 2 reviewers (SP and NB) independently screened the full paper for study selection. Disagreements were resolved through discussion and agreement with the third author (KP).

    Data Extraction

    Two authors (SP and NB) independently extracted data from the full original studies using a standard data collection form. Disagreements were resolved through discussion and agreement with the third author (KP). The data extracted included (1) the first author, (2) publication year, (3) study design, (4) study location, (5) population (including the number of patients, age, and sex), (6) the characteristic of home-based DHIs, (7) control group, (8) functional outcomes, and (9) other outcomes.

    Characteristics of Home-Based DHIs

    The characteristics of home-based DHIs focused on three dimensions, which included (1) purpose and content, (2) mode of delivery, and (3) health care provider. Two authors categorized subgroups in each dimension according to the definition (Table S2 in Multimedia Appendix 2) [17,26,27]. The categorizations possibly reported more than 1 category in each dimension. Purpose and content were categorized into 5 categories including education, telerehabilitation, communication and feedback, behavioral and lifestyle interventions or health coaching, and remote monitoring [17,26,27]. Modes of delivery were categorized into 4 categories including web-based software, telephone call, mobile apps, and sensor-based technology [17,26,27]. Health care providers were categorized into 6 categories including occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists or physiotherapists (PTs), physicians, nurses, dieticians, and multidisciplinary teams. If the results were unable to be meta-analyzed, we conducted a narrative synthesis to provide an overview of the characteristics and effects of home-based DHIs on functional outcomes in this population.

    Outcomes

    In the meta-analysis, the studies that reported functional outcomes including Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were considered. TUG is a tool that assesses functional walking ability and predicts fall risk in older adults. The shorter the time taken means better the balance function and walking ability, and the lower the risk of fall [28,29]. SPPB is a comprehensive assessment index that is used to evaluate the motor ability of the older adults and to predict the risk of falls. It consists of 3 parts that measure balance test, gait speed test, and 5 sit-to-stand tests, which assess static and dynamic balance, lower limb strength, and gait speed. The SPPB score runs from 0 to 12 and the higher the score mean the better the overall somatic ability and the lower the risk of fall [28]. FIM is a postdischarge follow-up evaluation test that consists of 18 items that measure patients’ somatic, verbal, social, and cognitive abilities. The score ranges from 18 to 126. Higher scores mean higher levels of functional independence and lower levels of dependence [28].

    Data Analysis

    In meta-analysis, the outcomes included functional outcomes (such as TUG, SPPB, and FIM) reported as mean and SD at the end of the intervention for both the intervention group and the control group. Because the same methodology and range of outcomes were used in all studies to analyze the outcomes, the summary measure for meta-analysis was the mean difference with 95% CIs. Pooled-effect estimates of each functional outcome of interest were calculated by the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird model. Statistical heterogeneity among included studies was assessed using Cochran Q test and the percentage of total variability across studies due to heterogeneity (I2=0%-40%, low; I2=30%-60%, moderate; I2=50%-90%, substantial, and I2=75%-100%, considerable) [30]. Results of the meta-analysis and forest plot were performed using a standard software package (Stata, version 16.0; StataCorp LLC). P value of <.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Risks of Bias

    We assessed the quality of each included study using the Risk of Bias 2 assessment tool (RoB 2; The Cochrane Collaboration) for the 14 RCT studies. In addition, 1 non-RCT and 1 quasi-experimental study were evaluated using the ROBINS-I (The Cochrane Collaboration) [31]. The results were visualized using robvis, a visualization tool [32]. This assessment was conducted independently by 2 authors, SP and NB, with any disagreements resolved through discussion and agreement with coauthor KP.

    Grading the Quality of Evidence

    We graded the quality of evidence using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) method [33]. This assessment was conducted independently by 2 authors, SP and NB, with any disagreements resolved through discussion and agreement with the third author, KP. The quality of evidence was categorized into 4 levels: very low, low, moderate, or high.


    During the initial literature search, a total of 2125 studies were identified. Among them, 244 studies were clinical trials or RCTs. After screening the titles and abstracts for eligibility criteria, 218 studies were retrieved and further assessed. Subsequently, 22 studies underwent full-text screening. The reasons for excluding studies were as follows: 2 studies involved a population without hip fractures [34,35], 2 study did not include home-based DHIs [36,37], 1 study had insufficient data [38], and 1 study used the same DHIs in both groups [39]. Finally, a total of 16 studies were included in the systematic reviews (Figure 1), with a subset of 6 studies included in the meta-analysis (4 studies for TUG, 4 studies for SPPB, and 2 studies for FIM).

    The characteristics of 16 studies are shown in Table 1 and Table S3 in Multimedia Appendix 2 [28,40-51]; 13 studies were 2-arm RCTs (compared DHIs with usual care), 1 study was 3-arm RCT (compared with DHIs add on cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT], only CBT, and usual care) [19], 1 study was non-RCT [52], and 1 study was quasi-experimental study [53], published between 2005 and 2022 (Figure S1 in Multimedia Appendix 2). Studies were conducted in Europe (n=7), America (n=5), and Asia (n=4). The total number of participants in the included studies was 1467.

    Figure 2 presents the characteristics of home-based DHIs. In terms of the purpose and content of home-based DHIs, most of the included studies (14 of 16) used multiple categories within each study. Two studies focused solely on communication and feedback. The common categories identified in this dimension were communication and feedback (n=15), education (n=12), telerehabilitation (n=7), health coaching (n=3), and remote monitoring (n=2). Regarding the mode of delivery, the majority of studies (13 of 16) used a single mode of delivery, while 3 studies used combined modes. The reported modes of delivery included telephone calls (n=10), web-based software platforms (n=5), mobile apps (n=3), and sensor-based technologies (n=1). The involvement of health care providers in DHIs varied. PTs were involved in 6 studies, OTs in 3 studies, physicians in 2 studies, nurses in 2 studies, dieticians in 2 studies, and a multidisciplinary team in 1 study.

    The majority of research indicates that home-based DHIs have shown a beneficial effect on mobility and physical function, as evidenced by improvements in scores on tests such as TUG, SPPB, and FIM [28,40-43,52]. Furthermore, these studies suggest that home-based DHIs are feasible for enhancing various aspects of hip fractures after surgery, such as improving physical function (daily activities and instrumental activities of daily living) [19,44,53], improved adherence for self-care [45], enhancing nutritional intake and status [46,47], and potentially preventing urinary incontinence and reducing its frequency [48] (Table 1).

    Ten of 16 studies had low risk of bias, 4 studies had some concerns, and 2 studies had high risk of bias (Figure 3 [19,28,40-45,47-51] and Figure 4 [52,53]). In the GRADE assessment of the quality of evidence across all outcomes, findings revealed moderate quality of evidence for TUG based on 4 studies, SPPB based on 4 studies, and for FIM based on 2 studies. (Table S4 in Multimedia Appendix 2). The forest plot analysis demonstrated that home-based DHIs resulted in a significant decrease in the TUG score (mean difference=–7.89; 95% CI –10.34 to –5.45; P<.001), improvement in SPPB score (mean difference=1.11; 95% CI 0.51-1.72; P<.001), and improvement in FIM score (mean difference=7.98; 95% CI 5.73-10.24; P<.001). Heterogeneity was low in both TUG (I2=0.00%; P<.53) and FIM scores (I2=12.62%; P<.32). However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in SPPB scores (I2=61.50%; P<.05). These findings are shown in Figures 5-7, respectively.

    ‎
    Figure 1. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 flow diagram. DHI: digital health intervention; RCT: randomized controlled trial.
    Table 1. Characteristics of the included studies.
    First author, year of publicationPopulationInterventionPurpose and content of DHIsaMode of deliveryHealth care providerControlFunctional outcomesConclusion
    Gardner et al (2005) [49]
    • 80: femoral or intertrochanteric fracture, mean age 82 years, female 78%
    • Ib: 40 (end 36)
    • Cc: 40 (end 36)
    • Educational intervention with 5 discussion questions regarding osteoporosis treatment
    • Single telephone call to remind questions during a follow-up
    		Education, communication, and feedbackTelephone callPrimary medical physicianBrochure (methods for preventing falls)N/AdPatients provided vs not provided with information and questions were more likely to receive appropriate intervention
    Krichbaum (2007) [44]
    • 33: hip fracture average age 78.87 years (range 72-85 years), female 73%
    • Nursing postacute care coordination intervention
    • First month: face-to-face then face-to-face or telephone until 6 months
    • Health assessment
    		Education, communication, and feedbackTelephone callGerontologic advanced practice nurseUsual careIntervention led to significantly improved function in most ADLse and IADLsf measured using the functional status index scoreI group had better function at 12 months on several activities and IADLs
    Breedveld-Peters et al (2012) [46]66: hip fracture, mean age 76 years (range 55-92 years), female 74%
    • Dietetic counseling (telephone call 5 visits and face-to-face 5 visits) and ONSg for 3 months
    		Communication and feedbackTelephone callDieticiansUsual nutritional careN/AFace-to-face and telephone call nutritional counseling are feasible
    Latham et al (2014) [41]
    • 232: hip fracture, mean age 78 (SD 9.9) years, female 69%
    • I: 120 (end 100)
    • C: 112 (end 95)
    • Functionally oriented exercises, home exercise program 3 times per week for 6 months
    • Monthly telephone call
    • DVD version of the program
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication and feedback, and health coachingTelephone call and web-based softwarePThIn-home and telephone-based cardiovascular nutrition educationI-group significantly improved in SPPBi between group difference 0.8 (95% CI 0.4-1.2; P<.01)Home-based functionally oriented exercise program resulted in modest improvement in physical function at 6 months
    Di Monaco et al (2015) [50]
    • 169: hip fracture, mean age 78.7 (SD 7.2) years in I-group, C-group 79.3 (8.0) years
    • I: 84 (end 78)
    • C: 85 (end 75)
    • Multidisciplinary rehabilitation program during hospitalization
    • Single telephone call to reinforce the targeted recommendations for fall prevention
    		Education, communication, and feedbackTelephone callOTjMultidisciplinary rehabilitation program during hospitalizationAt least 1 fall during follow-up; relative risk 1.06 (95% CI 0.48-2.34)This study did not support postdischarge single telephone call to reinforce the recommendations for fall prevention
    Bedra and Finkelstein (2015) [53]
    • 10: hip fracture, mean age 77 (SD 9) years, female 60%
    • Preintervention: 10
    • Postintervention: 10
    • Postcomprehensive telerehabilitation system to support individualized exercise program using home automated telemanagement
    • tailored feedback
    • multimedia education individualized to patient’s need
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication, and feedbackWeb-based softwarePTPreinterventionP value pre- and postcomparing
    • Modified Barthel Index improved (P=.10)
    • LEFSk significantly improved (P=.03)
    		Home-based telerehabilitation may be a viable model for postacute hip fracture recovery
    Langford et al (2015) [45]
    • 30: hip fracture, mean age 81.5 (range 61-97) years, female 63.33%
    • I: 15 (end 11)
    • C: 15 (end 15)
    • Educational (1 hour in-hospital session) plus 5 postdischarge telephone call coaching
    		Education, health coaching, communication and feedbackTelephone callPTUsual care plus 1 hour in-hospital educational sessionNo differences between groups for grip strength, gait speedTelephone coaching for older adults after hip fracture to improve adherence to mobility recovery goals has feasibility
    Kalron et al (2018) [40]32: femoral neck fracture, mean age 66.2 (SD 11.6) years, female 62.5%
    • I: 20 (end 15)
    • C: 20 (end 17)
    • Home-based telerehabilitation: video clips of common rehabilitation exercises focusing on the lower limbs, 40-50 minute/session
    		Education, tele-rehabilitation, communication, and feedbackWeb-based softwarePT (specialized in neurological rehabilitation)Home-based exercise bookletI-group greater improved significantly in 5/6 tests compare with C-group: TUG, 2-minute walk, sit to stand test, Walking speed, Mean step lengthTelerehabilitation generated a positive effect on mobility in people following hip surgery
    Wyers et al (2018) [47]
    • 152: hip fracture, mean age 77 (SEM 1.2) years in I-group, C-group 76 (SEM 1.1) years, female 71%
    • I: 73 (end: 63)
    • C: 79 (end: 68)
    • Intensive nutritional intervention
    • 10 counseling: 2 sessions in hospitalization and 8 sessions of weekly dietetic consultation (3 face-to-face, 5 telephone calls)
    • Energy-protein–enriched diet and ONS for 3 months
    		Communication and feedbackTelephone callDieticianUsual nutritional careDoes not affect functional and any outcomeIntensive nutritional intervention after hip fracture improved nutritional intake and status but not LOSl or clinical outcomes
    Pol et al (2019) [19]
    • 240: hip fracture, mean age 83.8 (SD 6.9) years, female 80%(3 arms)
    • CBTm on OT with sensor: 76
    • CBT on OT: 87
    • Usual 77
    • CBT-based occupational therapy (weekly session coaching of skilled nursing facility, 4 home visits, 4 telephone consultation)
    • Sensor monitoring (physical activity monitor, motion sensors)
    		Remote monitoring, health coaching, communication and feedbackSensor-based technology, telephone callOT
    • Usual care
    • CBT-based occupational therapy
    		Mean patient-reported daily functioning in the CBT-based OT with sensor monitoring was larger than usual group (difference 1.17 (95% CI 0.47-1.87; P=.001).Rehabilitation program of sensor-monitoring-informed OT more effective in improving patient-reported daily functioning at 6 months than usual care
    Pfeiffer et al (2020) [43]
    • 115: hip and pelvic fracture, mean age 82.5 (SD 6.8) years, female 76%
    • I: 57 (end 46)
    • C: 58 (end 50)
    • 8 individual sessions during inpatient rehabilitation
    • Additional support via 1 home visit, 4 telephone calls
    		Communication and feedback, educationTelephone callPT or sports therapistGeriatric inpatient rehabilitationEnd point SPPB improved in favor of I-group from baseline to follow-up (2.03 vs 0.70; P=.002, d=0.58)Intervention improved psychological and physical performance measures but did not increase daily walking duration
    Ortiz-Piña et al (2021) [52]
    • 71: hip fracture, mean age 75.86 (SD 5.79) years in I-group and 80.38 (SD 5.54) years in C-group, female 75.8%
    • I: 35 (end 28)
    • C: 36 (end 34)
    • @ctivehip: multidisciplinary telerehabilitation program supervised by family caregivers, 50-60 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week in 2 we-based components:
    • 3 exercise sessions + 2 OT sessions
    • Videoconference (if need)
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication, and feedbackWeb-based softwareMultidisciplinary (sport sciences professionals, PT, OT, and orthopedic surgeon consultants)Home-based usual outpatient rehabilitation
    • I-group higher FIMn (high effect size), better performance in TUGo (medium effect size) significantly compared with C-group
    • No statistically significant differences between group postintervention in SPPB
    		Telerehabilitation had better results in functional independence and physical condition (self-report and performance-based) than usual care
    Córcoles-Jiménez et al, (2021) [48]109: hip fracture, mean age 80.56 (SD 6.65) years, female 70.6%
    • I: 53 (end 51)
    • C: 56 (end 51)
    • Urinary habit training (education): in-hospital stay
    • Telephonic reinforcement to remind the recommended activities, repeating list of activities
    		Communication and feedback, educationTelephone callNurseUsual medical careMean of independence in ADL I-group 83.03 (SD 23.41), C-group 71.37 (SD 26.83) (P=.005)Educational and remind system prevents the development of UIp and decreases the number of episodes
    Zhang et al (2022) [28]58: hip fracture, mean age 77.0 (SD 7.89) years in I-group, C-group 75.17 (SD 7.73) years, female 64.7%
    • I: 29 (end 27)
    • C: 29 (end 24)
    • Home-based telerehabilitation.
    • Personalized rehabilitation programs, video, health knowledge
    • Remote-monitoring vital sign, assessment and guidance
    • Appointment for consultation
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication and feedback, and remote monitoringMobile apps (patient sided), web-based software (physician side)PhysicianFormer telephone follow-up at 2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, and months after discharge
    • The Harris hip score, FIM of I-group higher than C-group at 1 and 3 months (P<.05)
    • TUG, SPPB I-group better than C-group at 3 months (P<.05)
    		Home-based telerehabilitation improves functional recovery of hip joint and enhances ability to perform ADL and somatic integration to a certain extent
    Cheng et al (2022) [51]39: hip fracture, mean age 77.4 years, female 49.7%
    • I: 19
    • C: 20
    		Mobile apps in delivering home-based rehabilitation program.
    • Briefing session before discharge
    • Perform exercise along exercise video in app
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication, and feedbackMobile appsPTHome-based rehabilitation program using an exercise pamphletNo difference in modified functional ambulatory category, elderly mobility scale, LEFS at 1 and 2 monthsMobile apps improved exercise adherence but did not improve physical performance, self-efficacy, and reduced exercise adherence
    Li et al (2022) [42]31: hip fracture, mean age 76.5 (SD 8.6) years in I-group, 82.1 (SD 9.7) years in C-group, female 80.6%
    • I: 15
    • C: 16
    		Home program using the Caspar Health e-system.
    • Tailor-made telerehabilitation program through e-system calendar
    • Video, pictures, and written and verbal instructions shown on app
    • Patient feedback and OT update program
    		Education, telerehabilitation, communication and feedbackMobile appsOTHome program paper sheets and log sheets
    • I-group significant improvement in IADL (P=.010) at postintervention and follow-up
    • No significant differences in TUG, functional reach test, and modified Barthel index
    		Telerehabilitation via smartphone as alternative home program for use in OT practice with older after hip fracture surgery

    aDHI: digital health intervention.

    bI, I-group: intervention group.

    cC, C-group: control group.

    dN/A: not applicable.

    eADLs: activities of daily living.

    fIADLs: instrument activities of daily living.

    gONS: oral nutritional supplement.

    hPT: physical therapist or physiotherapist.

    iSPPB: Short Physical Performance Battery.

    jOT: occupational therapist.

    kLEFS: Lower Extremity Functional Scale.

    lLOS: length of stay.

    mCBT: cognitive behavioral therapy.

    nFIM: Functional Independence Measure.

    oTUG: Timed Up and Go.

    pUI: urinary incontinent.

    ‎
    Figure 2. The characteristics of home-based digital health interventions in 3 dimensions. Multidisciplinary team: 1 study (sport science, PT, OT, and orthopedic consultation). The categorizations possibly reported more than 1 category in each dimension. OT: occupational therapist; PT: physical therapist or physiotherapist.
    ‎
    Figure 3. Risk of bias of included studies (14 randomized controlled trials).
    ‎
    Figure 4. Risk of bias of included studies (2 non–randomized controlled trials).
    ‎
    Figure 5. Summary measure Timed Up and Go for meta-analysis [28,40,42,52]. DHI: digital health intervention.
    ‎
    Figure 6. Summary measure Short Physical Performance Battery for meta-analysis [28,41,43,52]. DHI: digital health intervention.
    ‎
    Figure 7. Summary measure Functional Independence Measure for meta-analysis [28,52]. DHI: digital health intervention.

    Principal Findings

    In this systematic review, we described the characteristics of home-based DHIs in postoperative care for older patients with hip fractures. Our findings revealed that the majority of home-based DHIs encompassed multiple components in terms of purpose and content. Furthermore, we observed that these interventions were typically delivered through a single mode of delivery and were provided by health care professionals. Importantly, our meta-analysis demonstrated that home-based DHIs were effective in improving functional outcomes for older patients during the postoperative phase of care for hip fractures.

    Home-based DHIs in older patients with hip fractures after surgery were first described in 2005. This upward trend can be attributed to the use of DHIs in clinical care for various conditions, including frailty [17], diabetes mellitus [54], and chronic disease [55]. We found that the frequency of research on DHIs for older individuals with hip fractures increased due to the aging population on the continent and the development of DHIs following the COVID-19 pandemic [23]. Subsequently, policy briefs for DHIs were adopted and implemented, incorporating a highly developed health care infrastructure with advanced information technology systems, financial support, and health care provider training [56]. Looking ahead, it is predicted that the role of DHIs will continue to expand in line with the global strategy for digital health 2020-2024 [57] and the WHO guideline recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening in 2018 [15].

    The majority of studies used multicomponent approaches, considering the purpose and content of home-based DHIs in postoperative care for older individuals with hip fractures. Freitag and Magaziner [24] recommended that postoperative care in this population may require multiple interventions provided individually or through coordinated management. In this study, the most common categories of purpose and content were communication and feedback, combined with education in areas such as rehabilitation [40-42,51-53], fall prevention [50], and osteoporosis [49]. A lack of knowledge and awareness was identified as an important barrier for self-care [58]. During the postoperative period, patients with hip fracture and their caregivers receive numerous recommendations, including early ambulation, exercise and rehabilitation programs, preventing postoperative complications, modifying home hazards, and taking nutrition supplements [24]. Therefore, effective communication skills with specific feedback are crucial for delivering accurate knowledge and information and ultimately leading to positive functional outcomes [24,59,60].

    Telerehabilitation was the third most common content of home-based DHIs. It is essential for every patient with a hip fracture to receive rehabilitation in some setting, including outpatient rehabilitation, nursing homes, and home care. Rehabilitation is one of the most crucial aspects of postoperative care, as it contributes to recovering functional outcomes, patient ability, and overall quality of life [24]. Crotty et al [61] found that a home-based rehabilitation program yielded similar outcomes and placed less burden on caregivers compared with a hospital program. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, telerehabilitation has gained even greater significance in clinical care for patients with postoperative hip fracture. According to Seron et al [22], the most common interventions in telerehabilitation include therapeutic exercises, functional training, and education. Therefore, telerehabilitation is a vital option for rehabilitation as it reduces hospital visits, decreases the cost of hospital visits, and still enhances functional outcomes.

    The telephone call was the most common mode of delivery in this study and previous studies due to its ease of use, availability in most households, and effectiveness in communicating and providing simple educational information to patients and their families [24,60]. This is especially true in the Thai context, where a high number of older adults do not use the internet in their everyday lives. Therefore, using telephone calls should enhance the chance for accessing care with DHIs. Multiple episodes of telephone calls may increase adherence and functional outcomes more than a single telephone call [43,50]. However, based on our findings, using the telephone alone was less likely to achieve the goal of improving functional outcomes than other modes of delivery for patients with postoperative hip fracture. The limitations of telephone calls include only voice evaluation and advice and the absence of video connection. Telephone calls are limited when health care providers need to assess patients and provide exercise programs through video calls [62]. Therefore, telerehabilitation should use web-based software or mobile apps as the mode of delivery. Both platforms can provide real-time or on-demand video calls and chat, allowing for the delivery of rehabilitation programs, tracking of progress, and modification of the program based on the patient’s status [24].

    Most studies used only 1 health care provider who played an important role in this intervention. The top 2 providers were PT and OT, who addressed the population's rehabilitation needs during the recovery phase. They provided instructional materials and self-management guidance at home, leading to improvements in functional abilities, as shown by the results. However, a program that included only dieticians did not have evidence of improving the patients' status. This detail could be an insightful consideration for providers when developing care programs. While nutritional improvement is required following orthopedic surgery [63], focusing solely on nutrition may not be sufficient for patients to recover from their postoperative condition; a combination of nutrition and physical therapy interventions can maximize function [64]. Therefore, to provide home-based DHIs, health care providers should allow patients and families access to a specific scope of care that includes a rehabilitation program. In addition, given the complexity of hip fracture patients, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, typically involving early geriatric assessment [24]. This approach can enhance functional outcomes, reduce hospital stays, and decrease the future need for institutional care. Although the evidence regarding the effectiveness of multidisciplinary teams in this population is unclear [23], holistic care, such as holistic assessment, rehabilitation, and nutrition, remains important.

    In the meta-analysis, it was found that home-based DHIs have a positive impact on enhancing functional outcomes by improving scores on tests such as TUG, SPPB, and FIM even after the interventions end [19,28,40-53]. The differences in population caused variances in the mean difference of TUG reduction. Although this study demonstrated that home-based DHIs have a positive impact on enhancing functional outcomes, further studies may be needed across other functional outcomes to provide a comprehensive summary of the results. The characteristics of home-based DHIs that were associated with increased functional outcomes included a combination of telerehabilitation, effective communication and feedback, and educational components. The modes of delivery commonly used were web-based software, and mobile apps, similar to previous literature [23]. Whether it involves a multidisciplinary team or a single health care provider, the inclusion of physical therapy content in home-based DHIs was found to improve functional outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating rehabilitation or physical therapy content through telehealth care. This may be particularly beneficial in the context of orthopedic surgery, where reduced limb usage can lead to muscle weakness and functional disability [65]. By enhancing movement through appropriate rehabilitation, improvements in range of motion, muscle strength, and overall performance can be achieved [65]. In addition, this study demonstrated that home-based DHIs potentially have a positive impact on improving physical function and activities of daily living, self-care, and nutritional status. Further studies may be needed to provide a comprehensive summary of these results. Future research should aim to include a larger number of studies reporting patient outcomes, ensure consistency in time points for outcome assessment, and explore the effectiveness of DHIs in diverse populations with hip fractures. For example, this could involve studying different underlying health conditions, various types of hip fractures or surgeries, or varying levels of functional impairment. Such research can help identify which subgroups benefit most from home-based DHIs. In addition, further research on cost-effectiveness of home-based DHIs compared with traditional interventions can inform health care decision makers and potentially lead to more widespread adoption of these approaches.

    Limitations

    In this study, we demonstrated the common characteristics of home-based DHIs that have shown benefits in improving functional outcomes. This finding holds promise for the development of home-based DHIs aimed at enhancing functional outcomes. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations encountered during the study. First, only a limited number of studies (6 in total) reported the functional outcomes of interest, which may restrict the generalizability of our findings. Second, although a summary analysis of functional results was conducted, the time points at which these outcomes were measured varied among the included studies. The duration of the intervention itself could potentially impact the observed differences in outcomes. Third, most studies did not specify the type of hip fracture and the type of surgery. Their populations were characterized as patients with hip fractures. The specific type of hip fracture was presented only in 2 studies. Consequently, we were unable to conduct a subgroup analysis. Moreover, it is important to note that our study exclusively focused on DHIs used in the care of postoperative populations with hip fractures. This narrow scope may limit the applicability of our findings to nonsurgical hip fracture populations, where the intervention strategies and approaches may differ. Furthermore, our meta-analysis mainly focused on functional outcomes, but there are other factors that impact patient overall outcomes, such as fear of falling, pain control, and caregiver burden, which have not been conclusively examined in this study. These limitations should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results.

    Conclusions

    Overall, our findings suggest that home-based DHIs, particularly those incorporating telerehabilitation, offer a promising approach to enhance the recovery and functional abilities of older patients following hip fracture surgery. These interventions have the potential to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes in this population. Further research and implementation of home-based DHIs are warranted to fully leverage their benefits in postoperative care for older patients with hip fractures.

    Acknowledgments

    This work was partially supported by Chiang Mai University.

    Data Availability

    All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in the tables and figures of this published paper.

    Authors' Contributions

    Study conception and design were done by SP, KP, CA, PACM, and WJ. Data collection was performed by SP, NB, NW, and KP. Analysis and interpretation of results were done by SP, KP, NB, and CA. SP, KP, and CA contributed to drafting of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the results, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

    Conflicts of Interest

    None declared.

    Multimedia Appendix 1

    PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist.

    PDF File (Adobe PDF File), 275 KB
    Multimedia Appendix 2

    Searching and details of included articles.

    DOCX File , 111 KB
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    ‎
    CBT: cognitive behavioral therapy
    DHI: digital health intervention
    FIM: Functional Independence Measure
    GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation
    OT: occupational therapist
    PT: physical therapist or physiotherapist
    RCT: randomized controlled trial
    SPPB: Short Physical Performance Battery
    TUG: Timed Up and Go

    Edited by T de Azevedo Cardoso; submitted 06.06.23; peer-reviewed by SQ Yoong, C Zhang; comments to author 23.09.23; revised version received 07.10.23; accepted 29.04.24; published 12.06.24.

    Copyright

    ©Suphawita Pliannuom, Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish, Nida Buawangpong, Nutchar Wiwatkunupakarn, Poppy Alice Carson Mallinson, Wichuda Jiraporncharoen, Chaisiri Angkurawaranon. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 12.06.2024.

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