Geriatric Trauma Care Program for Living Alone Older Adults With Injuries

Kaohsiung Medical University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Geriatric; Quality of Life; Geriatric Depression; Limb Injury; Loneliness; Older Adults; Pain; Barthel Index

Treatments: Behavioral: Geriatric trauma care program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06902636

KMUHIRB-F(I)-20230043

NSTC113-2314-B-037-050-MY2-1 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

To examine the long-term effects of the Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) regarding pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and health-related quality of life among older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone.

Full description

Traumatic injuries among older adults represent a significant public health concern due to their potential to severely affect individuals' long-term physical, emotional, and social well-being. Older adults who experience traumatic injuries often face substantial challenges during recovery, particularly those living alone who may lack sufficient support systems, exacerbating their vulnerability to chronic health issues. Pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and diminished health-related quality of life are prevalent adverse outcomes following traumatic injuries, underscoring the critical need for effective, targeted care strategies to address these multidimensional impacts.

The Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) is a nurse practitioner-led, digitalized trauma care program designed to provide comprehensive and accessible intervention aimed at improving immediate trauma care outcomes and facilitating sustainable recovery among older adults. While short-term benefits of digitally supported, geriatric-focused trauma interventions have been documented, the long-term effectiveness of such programs, especially for older individuals who live alone, remains less understood. Consequently, examining the enduring impact of the GTCP is essential to determine its effectiveness in fostering sustained recovery and improving quality of life for this vulnerable population. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the long-term effects of the GTCP on pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and health-related quality of life among older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone. Findings from this research will provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers to enhance care delivery models, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve long-term outcomes for older adults recovering from traumatic injuries.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. willing to join this study for three months
2. with limb injuries
3. living alone in a household
4. aged 65 years old or older
5. independent before a traumatic injury
6. having a smartphone.

Exclusion criteria

1. with an ISS greater than 16 (severe injuries)
2. having cognitive impairments
3. diagnosed with psychiatric illness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

90 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will have the routine care only

Geriatric Trauma Care Program

Experimental group

Description:

The experiment group will implement the Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) and routine care. The GTCP will be implemented through an E-book that includes six units of intervention for older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Geriatric trauma care program