Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) – CANS Dissertation Research Grant

Dynamics of Symptom Experience and Functional Recovery in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia after Hip Fracture Surgery

Tingzhong (Michelle) Xue, RN, MS, PhD Candidate, Duke University School of Nursing

My dissertation study will examine the roles of dementia-related symptoms and multimorbidity in physical function recovery trajectories among older adults with dementia during the first year after hip fracture surgery, guided by the theoretical framework of physical resilience. This study aligns with the goal of CANS of promoting better health through nursing science. Hip fracture, dementia, and multimorbidity all contribute to current public health burdens. Patients with dementia are disproportionately affected by hip fracture and usually experience significant worse recovery outcomes. Addressing the knowledge gap of how complex health conditions in those with dementia affect their recovery trajectories after injuries is needed to facilitate care innovations.

The proposed study will establish the empirical foundation for nurses to identify high-risk patients and develop symptom-specific or multimorbid disease-specific care approaches for this vulnerable population. The study will use the Long-Term Care Minimum Data Set 3.0 to analyze quarterly, comprehensive assessment data for residents in all nursing homes certified by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CANS/SNRS Dissertation Research Grant provides substantial financial support for me to purchase the most recent and relevant data from CMS directly, which is otherwise not readily available.

The grant allows me to carry out my dissertation as the first step of developing my program of research and therefore has significant value for my career development as a nurse scientist examining factors influencing outcomes for older adults with hip fracture and dementia.