Exploring needs, barriers to, and facilitators of rehabilitation exercise following revision hip replacement - a grounded theory study

Purpose: Evidence on rehabilitation after revision total hip replacement (THR) is inadequate and development of rehabilitation interventions is warranted. Even so, little is known about patients’ experiences with revision THR rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore patients' rehabilitation exercise experiences after revision THR.
Materials and methods: Using constructivist grounded theory, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with twelve patients with completed or almost completed rehabilitation exercise after revision THR. Data collection and analysis were a constant comparative process conducted in three phases; initial, focused, and theoretical.
Findings: From the data, we generated a substantial theory of the participant’s circumstances and ability to integrate rehabilitation exercise into their everyday life after revision THR. Four categories were constructed based on patients’ experiences in different contexts: hesitance, fear avoidance, self-commitment, and fidelity.
Conclusions: This study highlighted that patients’ expectations, past experiences, attitudes, trusts, engagement, and circumstances interact to influence engagement and adherence to rehabilitation exercise and described four categories relating to the integration of THR rehabilitation exercise into their everyday life. Clinicians should be aware of and account for these categories during rehabilitation exercise. Tailored individual rehabilitation exercise interventions and clinician approaches to optimize commitment and adherence are needed among patients with revision THR.