A review of 11 trials involving 1,107 patients looked at how nurse led rehabilitation affects recovery after hip and knee replacements. The study compared these programs to usual care to see if they helped patients move better and feel more confident in their abilities.
The analysis found that patients who received nurse led care showed improvements in functional recovery, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life. These results were consistent across both hip and knee replacement patients. However, the researchers noted that the evidence is not very certain because the studies varied significantly in how they were conducted.
Because the data is limited and the results are not consistent across all types of studies, it is hard to say exactly how much better these programs are compared to standard care. Patients should talk to their doctors to see if a nurse led program is a suitable option for their specific recovery needs.
Common questions
Does nurse led rehabilitation help after hip or knee surgery?
The study found that nurse led rehabilitation was associated with improved functional recovery and quality of life for patients who had hip or knee replacements. While the results were positive, the overall certainty of this evidence is low because the studies included in the review were very different from one another.
How does it affect a patient's confidence during recovery?
Patients in the study who received nurse led care showed improvements in self-efficacy, which is the confidence to perform daily tasks. However, researchers noted that this specific finding was statistically fragile, meaning the results were less certain than other outcomes measured.
Is nurse led care better than standard care for joint replacement?
The analysis showed that nurse led care was associated with better outcomes than usual care. However, because the study had high heterogeneity and low certainty, the exact size of the benefit is still uncertain. You should discuss these options with your medical team.
