Using established predictors of post-traumatic stress to explain variations in recovery outcomes among orthopedic patients. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cremeans-Smith, Julie K; Contrera, Kevin; Speering, Leann; Miller, Eric T; Pfefferle, Kiel; Greene, Kenneth; Delahanty, Douglas L
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 20:Number 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1296
• Page End: 1304
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: activity -- adults -- disability -- distress -- health care -- outcomes; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105313511135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The present studies examine whether information contained in medical records can be used to predict outcomes following two orthopedic procedures: repair of hip fracture and total knee replacement. Study 1 reports the acute, in-hospital recovery data from the medical records of 119 hip fracture patients. Study 2 is a prospective, longitudinal investigation of 3-month postoperative recovery of 110 total knee replacement patients. Patients characterized by a greater number of post-traumatic stress risk factors experienced poorer outcomes following orthopedic surgery. Our results suggest that patients at risk for negative outcomes can be identified by information readily available to medical personnel.