The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.
The defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.
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Due to copyright reasons, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. In order for the faculty to have time to process the order, it must be received by the faculty no later than 2 days prior to the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. Inquiries regarding the thesis after the public defence must be addressed to the candidate.
Digital Trial Lecture - time and place
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Lars Nyberg, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Bård Erik Bogen, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Bergen
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Marie Stugaard, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Chair of defence
Associate Professor Christine Råheim Borge, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Associate Professor Kristi Elisabeth Heiberg, OsloMet
Summary
Low energy hip fractures have significant consequences for older patients, often resulting in reduced physical function and health related quality of life (HRQoL). More than half do not regain pre-fracture levels of physical function in the first year post-fracture.
The overall aim of the thesis was to contribute to evidence-based knowledge on the effects of exercise interventions on clinical health outcomes, such as physical function, HRQoL and pain in the early phase after hip fracture, and the recovery and prediction of these outcomes one year post-fracture.
We found that exercise interventions in the early phase have the potential to improve the patients’ physical function, but the exercise intervention that provides the best effect on physical function, is still unknown.
In the main study, 140 patients admitted to a short-term nursing home stay were randomised to an intervention or a control group. Patients in the intervention group received a functional exercise programme performed by healthcare professionals during a two-week short-term nursing home stay in addition to usual care. Participants in the control group received usual care alone. The functional exercise programme showed no immediate or 3-month effects on physical function, HRQoL, and pain above usual care. Both the patients transferred to the short-term nursing home stay and those transferred directly home (n=67) showed gradual improvements in physical function, HRQoL and pain during the first year. The largest improvements occurred within the first three months. Physical function at hospital discharge and pre-fracture requirement of a walking aid were the strongest predictors of physical function at three- and 12 months post-fracture.
Additional information
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