Digitally Enhanced Nursing Discharge Teaching Program for Geriatric Trauma

The Effects of a Digitally Enhanced Nursing Discharge Teaching Program on Post-Injury Symptoms in Older Adults With Limb Fractures: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This quasi-experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of a digitally enhanced nursing discharge teaching program for older adults recovering from limb fractures. As patients transition from the acute trauma ward to home care, they often face significant challenges managing pain, psychological distress, and daily functioning. This study compares a structured, digitally supported educational intervention against standard hospital discharge care. The primary goal is to determine if the digital program improves patients' pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life during the first six weeks post-discharge compared to routine care.

Geriatric trauma patients, specifically those suffering from limb fractures, experience a high risk of poor functional and psychological outcomes following hospital discharge. Standard discharge teaching is often constrained by the fast-paced nature of acute trauma wards, limiting patients' ability to retain critical recovery information. To address this, the current study implemented a digitally enhanced nursing discharge teaching program.

This study utilized a non-randomized, quasi-experimental design with two parallel arms: a contrast group receiving standard routine discharge care, and an experimental group receiving the digitally enhanced program. The digital intervention included interactive, multimedia educational content delivered prior to discharge, supplemented by structured telephone follow-ups by nursing staff to reinforce symptom management, mobility safety, and recovery strategies at home.

Participants were recruited continuously based on acute hospital admissions. The primary outcomes assessed were pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), and overall quality of life (WHOQOL). Data were collected at three distinct time points: baseline (prior to hospital discharge), two weeks post-discharge, and six weeks post-discharge. The study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of this digital transition model and its feasibility for integration into routine geriatric trauma care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• First-time patients with limb fracture as the primary diagnosis.
• Capable of independent mobility before the injury.
• Able to communicate in Mandarin.
• Willing to participate from hospital discharge to six weeks post-discharge.
• Able to use a smartphone and have internet access.
• A pain score greater than four on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).
• A depression score greater than four on the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Were cognitively impaired.
• Suffered from cardiovascular, pulmonary, or cerebral insufficiency.
• Had a history of psychiatric or terminal illnesses.
• Had visual impairments.