Factors Influencing Performance-Oriented Mobility After Hip Fracture

Objective: To identify the patient- and fracture-related determinants that influence performance-oriented mobility in hip fracture patients as measured by the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) score. Method: A prospective study was conducted. Patients aged 65 or older (n = 186) were prospectively recruited. Patients were assessed for mobility (Tinetti POMA), level of independence (Modified Barthel Index), emotional distress (Goldberg General Health Questionnaire), comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index), and Perceived Health (categorical scale). Results: The study revealed that patient age, type of fracture, length of hospital stay, level of emotional distress, and level of independence were significant predictors of performance-oriented mobility. When combined, these factors explained 44.3% of the variance in performance-oriented mobility (r(2) = .443; r(2) adjusted = .414; F = 15.46; p < .001). Discussion: Patients who are older, spend more days in hospital, have worse pre-fracture independence level or higher emotional distress levels at discharge, and sustain subtrochanteric or intertrochanteric fractures seem to have poorer performance-oriented mobility after hip fracture.