The Resources identify a clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.

Sample Solution

Alright, let's dive into this process.

Clinical Issue of Interest:

My clinical issue of interest is the impact of early mobilization on the length of hospital stay and functional recovery of elderly patients following hip fracture surgery. This is a significant concern, especially given the aging population and the prevalence of hip fractures, which often lead to prolonged hospital stays and functional decline.

Database Searches and Keyword Development:

To explore this issue, I will use the following keywords:

• "Hip fracture"
• "Elderly patients" or "geriatric patients"
• "Early mobilization" or "early ambulation"
• "Functional recovery"
• "Length of hospital stay"
• "Postoperative rehabilitation"

Database Searches:

I will use the following databases in the Walden Library:

1. PubMed:
   • Search 1: "Hip fracture" AND "elderly patients" AND "early mobilization" AND "functional recovery"
   • Search 2: "Geriatric patients" AND "postoperative rehabilitation" AND "length of hospital stay" AND "ambulation"
2. CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature):
   • Search 1: "Hip fracture" AND "early mobilization" AND "elderly" AND "rehabilitation"
   • search 2: "post-operative care" AND "hip fracture" AND "ambulation" AND "functional outcome"

Full Answer Section

Identified Peer-Reviewed Articles (Examples):

Note: These are examples, and actual search results will vary.

1. Article 1 (PubMed):
   • Title: "The Effect of Early Mobilization on Functional Recovery in Elderly Patients After Hip Fracture Surgery."
   • Authors: [Example Authors]
   • Journal: Journal of Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation
   • Focus: This study analyzes the difference in functional recovery between patients who began mobilization within 24 hours of surgery and those who began later.
2. Article 2 (PubMed):
   • Title: "Impact of Early Ambulation on Length of Hospital Stay in Older Adults Undergoing Hip Fracture Repair."
   • Authors: [Example Authors]
   • Journal: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
   • Focus: This article investigates the correlation between the timing of ambulation and the duration of hospital stay.
3. Article 3 (CINAHL):
   • Title: "Nursing Interventions for Early Mobilization Following Hip Fracture: A Randomized Controlled Trial."
   • Authors: [Example Authors]
   • Journal: Journal of Nursing Scholarship
   • Focus: This research studies the effectiveness of specific nursing interventions in facilitating early mobilization.
4. Article 4 (CINAHL):
   • Title: "Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Early Mobilization in Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients."
   • Authors: [Example Authors]
   • Journal: Rehabilitation Nursing
   • Focus: This study evaluates the impact of early mobilization on functional outcomes and quality of life.

PICO(T) Question:

P: Elderly patients (65 years and older) following hip fracture surgery.

I: Early mobilization (initiation of ambulation and physical therapy within 24 hours post-surgery).

C: Delayed mobilization (initiation of ambulation and physical therapy after 48 hours post-surgery).

O: Improved functional recovery (measured by functional independence measures, gait speed, and mobility scores) and reduced length of hospital stay.

T: Within the first 6 weeks post-surgery.

PICO(T) Question: In elderly patients (65 years and older) following hip fracture surgery, does early mobilization (initiation of ambulation and physical therapy within 24 hours post-surgery) compared to delayed mobilization (initiation of ambulation and physical therapy after 48 hours post-surgery) result in improved functional recovery and reduced length of hospital stay within the first 6 weeks post-surgery?