The impact of staged rehabilitation guidance based on symptom management theory on functional rehabilitation and quality of life of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery

Abstract

Objective: Physical rehabilitation after hip arthroplasty (HA) is crucial for improving patients’ functional outcomes and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to explore the impact of staged rehabilitation guidance based on symptom management theory (SMT) on functional rehabilitation and QOL in elderly patients undergoing HA. Methods: This retrospective case-control analysis included a cohort of 60 patients who received SMT-based staged rehabilitation guidance between January 2023 to April 2024 at The Affiliated Yangming Hospital of Ningbo University. Patients of the SMT group were matched 1:1 with patients who received routine care (the control group). The recovery of hip joint function, motor function, QOL, and self-care ability after intervention was compared. Results: After four and 12 weeks of intervention, the Harris hip score (HHS), functional independence measure (FIM) score, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Berg balance scale (BBS) score, QLQ-C30, and Barthel index (BI) score of the SMT group were significantly higher, while the standing to walking time was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The staged rehabilitation guidance based on SMT principles has potentially positive effects on the hip joint function, motor function, QOL, and self-care ability of elderly patients undergoing HA.