OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of early discharge and home-based therapy with conventional hospital rehabilitation on patient and caregiver outcomes at 12 months after hip fracture.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Acute and subacute care with follow-up in a community setting in Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-six older adults admitted to acute care after hip fracture who were assessed as needing rehabilitation.

INTERVENTIONS

Eligible patients were randomized to either home-based (n=34) or hospital (n=32) rehabilitation. Patients assigned to the home-based group were discharged home within 48 hours of randomization. Patients assigned to hospital rehabilitation received usual care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Modified Barthel Index (MBI), timed up and go (TUG) test, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Caregiver Strain Index.

RESULTS

At 12 months, 56 of 66 (85%) participants were available for follow-up assessment. Both groups achieved significant improvements in MBI and TUG test scores. Patients in both groups had a significant decline in the physical score of the SF-36 and there were no differences between groups. Caregivers of patients allocated to receive home-based therapy reported a reduction in burden after 12 months. Over that period, there was a significant reduction in the burden for caregivers of those patients who received home rehabilitation (P=.020).

CONCLUSION

For patients who were previously functionally independent and living in the community, early return home with increased involvement of caregivers after hip fracture resulted in similar patient outcomes (home vs hospital) and less caregiver burden at 12 months.