Lingering challenges in everyday life for adults under age 60 with hip fractures–a qualitative study of the lived experience during the first three years

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  • Sebastian Strøm Rönnquist
  • Hilda K. Svensson
  • Charlotte Myhre Jensen
  • Overgaard, Søren
  • Cecilia Rogmark

Purpose: We aimed to illuminate the lived experiences and the path of recovery for adults sustaining a hip fracture before the age of 60. Methods: Participants were purposively sampled from a prospective multicenter cohort study in Sweden and Denmark, and narrative interviews were conducted with 19 individuals 0.7–3.5 years after the fracture. We used a phenomenological hermeneutic method to describe the participants’ expressed essential meaning. Results: The experience of sustaining a hip fracture was expressed as a painful and protracted process of regaining self-confidence, function, and independence. It also implied a sense of growing old from one day to the next. Participants were afraid of new falls and fractures, resulting in an increased wariness. When expressing fears and persisting symptoms, participants described being neglected and marginalized by the healthcare system, which was perceived as non-receptive and routinely driven by a notion that hip fractures affect only the elderly. Rehabilitation targeted towards needs different from those of elderly individuals was requested. Conclusion: The lived experience of sustaining a hip fracture in individuals under 60 includes substantial challenges in everyday life, even up to 3.5 years after the injury. Rehabilitation pathways tailored to the needs of younger patients are requested.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2191426
JournalInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being
Volume18
Issue number1
Number of pages12
ISSN1748-2623
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

    Research areas

  • everyday life, experience, Hip fracture, recovery, young and middle-aged adults

ID: 369366729