An assessment of procedures.

Seven in-patients, who had the insertion of a dynamic hip screw, were included in a small study. They were discharged from the orthopaedic nursing development unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Tyneside, over a two-month period. The nursing records were assessed before discharge to show the planning stages in hospital. The respondents were interviewed two weeks after discharge to determine the effectiveness of the hospital intervention. The main issues that arose were a need for more discussion with patients and the lack of information provided.