Learner Analysis: Influence of Age, Gender, and Reading Ability on Postoperative Recovery Following Hip Fracture Among Older Adults

This study aims to investigate the differences between the characteristics of older adults (including age, gender, and reading ability) and to determine the differences between factors associated with recovery after hip fracture surgery. Adults aged 70 years and older who received surgery because of hip fractures at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan were invited to participate in this study. A total of 150 patients were enrolled in this study, and postoperative recovery was evaluated using the Elderly Mobility Scale and Performance-oriented Mobility Assessment Scale. The main results were classified according to age group. In patients aged 80 years and older, the higher the home safety evaluation score, the better was the postoperative recovery. No relevant factors were found patients aged younger than 80 years. For female patients, the higher the home safety evaluation score, the better was the postoperative recovery. By contrast, no relevant factors were found for male patients. Literate older adults had a better understanding of self-care and postoperative recovery, whereas no relevant factors were found among illiterate older patients. The relevant factors for postoperative recovery differ due to the differences between the characteristics of the learners. The results of this study can be used as a reference for designing effective health education for postoperative recovery.