Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Currently, every succeeding generation has a longer life expectancy than the previous one. Therefore, the burden of acute and chronic diseases is expected to increase dramatically, and hip fractures are no exception. Hip fractures (a broken hip or the fracture of the upper part of the femur) are projected to be a worldwide health problem in the near future, and a concomitant increase in seniors who survive hip fractures but live with disabilities is also expected. This will eventually increase the burden on the healthcare system and the society. However, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that comprehensive ongoing care that takes an integrative approach by considering the role of all personal and life course factors together (e.g. psychological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors) could significantly improve health outcomes for survivors of hip fractures, including their quality of life. Thus, conducting integrative research that considers the bigger picture and takes into account all the factors related to recovery has never been as relevant and important as it is today. We are requesting support to organize a meeting to establish a unique think tank focusing on integrating all factors related to recovery after hip fracture. At the first think tank meeting, we will aim to establish a collaborative research relationship among a group of national and international experts in the care of seniors with hip fractures and the role of psychological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors in the recovery process. By creating this think tank, we hope to create a long-term cross-national collaboration to enhance research in recovery after hip fracture. The long-term outcomes of this research will be reflected in improving clinical health practices in healthcare settings, which will help both patients and their caregivers and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.