Figure 1
Methodological framework: multiple case study design.
Table 1
Participants’ characteristics in each case in the study.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient | Gender | Male | Male | Male |
| Age | 71 | 84 | 84 | |
| Living situation | With wife, own home | With wife, own home | Alone, own home | |
| Living environment | Rural | Urban | Rural | |
| Family caregivers | Gender | Female | Female | Female |
| Age | 70 | 81 | 57 | |
| Link with patient | Spouse | Spouse | Daughter | |
| Clinicians | T1-Number (Professions) | 5 (Phy, OT, Physio, SW, Nut) | 5 (Phy, OT, Physio, Nur, Nut) | 5 (Phy, OT, Physio, SW, Nut) |
| T2-Number (Professions) | 2 (OT, SW) | 3 (Pra, OT, Phy) | 2 (OT, SW) | |
| Age range (years) | 27–59 | 29–59 | 28–59 | |
| Gender | 2 Males, 5 Females | 8 Females | 2 Males, 5 Females | |
| Experience in profession | 1½–24 years | 4–35 years | 2½–24 years | |
| Experience within organisation | 9 months–24 years | 6 months–30 years | 3 weeks–24 years |
[i] Phy: Physician; OT: Occupational Therapist; Physio: Physiotherapist; SW: Social Worker; Nur: Nurse; Nut: Nutritionist.
Table 2
Synopsis of patients’ pathways before and after hospital discharge.
| Pathway | CASE 1 | CASE 2 | CASE 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause of hospitalisation | Hip surgery (vascular necrosis) | Hip surgery (post-fall fracture) | Lumbar surgery (severe spinal stenosis) |
| Comorbidities | Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, pulmonary embolism | Major depression, deconditioning, malnutrition | Bilateral neurapraxia, fall on shoulder, COPD |
| Past fall event | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| T1 – STUDY | IFRU | IFRU | IFRU |
| DISCHARGE | |||
| Length of stay | 10 weeks | 5 weeks | 10 weeks |
| AFTER DISCHARGE | |||
| Physical health evolution* | Decrease | Decrease | Increase (walking ability) |
| Mental health evolution* | Decrease | Decrease | Increase |
| Health events | 2 rheumatoid arthritis crises | One fall | |
| Functional autonomy* | Decrease, dependent on spouse | Decrease, dependent on spouse | Depends on others for activities outside the home but very active |
| Social environment* | Mainly spouse but can count on some neighbours | Not interested in human contact | Family lives far away but he has many friends close by |
| Readmission | Yes (2×) | No | No |
| Time until readmission and length of stay | 10 days later, for 2 weeks | ||
| 13 days later, for >5 weeks | |||
| T2 – STUDY | IFRU (11 weeks after discharge)** | Home (7 weeks after discharge) | Home (6 weeks after discharge) |
[i] * based on interviews; ** patient was readmitted to IFRU after discharge, but was interviewed at T2 concerning the time he was at home; COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; IFRU: Intensive Functional Rehabilitation Unit.
Figure 2
Overview of perceived risks – Inter-participant, inter-measuring time and inter-case comparison.
Figure 3
Perceived support for fall risk – Inter-participant, inter-measuring time and inter-case comparison.