DementiaVOICE-HFNCT07418268
Communication for Early Mobilisation of People Living With Dementia Following Surgery for Hip Fracture
An observational study of Dementia and Hip Fracture, run by University of Nottingham.
Trial summary
This goal of this study is to identify ways that healthcare professionals communicate that are effective in helping a person living with dementia to stand or walk after surgery for a broken hip (hip fracture). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Dementia, Hip Fracture, Early Mobilisation
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Feb 2026to Sep 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients, healthcare professionals, relatives/friends on 3 trauma orthopaedic wards at one acute hospital
Who may be able to join
- Patient participants will:
- have a documented diagnosis of dementia
- be either waiting for hip fracture surgery or have had hip fracture surgery within the previous 7 days
- have someone who can act as their personal consultee, in case they are assessed as lacking capacity during the study.
- HCP participants will:
- be registered, student or assistant healthcare practitioners
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- be involved in assessing, supporting or encouraging PLWD to mobilise post-hip fracture surgery
- work on the relevant wards
- Relative and friend participants will:
- Be visiting a consented patient at a time when an appropriate recording with consented HCPs will take place
- Be a relative or friend of the consented patient who might normally be present during attempts to mobilise the patient after surgery
Who cannot join
- Patients will be excluded if we are unable to gain informed consent or consultee agreement, or if they are expected to die within 7 days.
About this study
Official title: Communication Practices to Achieve Early Mobilisation of People Living With Dementia Following Surgery for Hip Fracture: a Conversation Analytical Study ('VideOing to Improve Communication Through Education - Hip Fracture', VOICE-HF)
This goal of this study is to identify ways that healthcare professionals communicate that are effective in helping a person living with dementia to stand or walk after surgery for a broken hip (hip fracture). We aim to identify 'what works' in successfully helping people with dementia to mobilise early, and share this in practice. The main question the research aims to answer is:
What healthcare professional communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia following hip fracture surgery?
We will use a research method called 'Conversation Analysis', to look at the fine detail of the language healthcare professionals use and responses to it. We will make video recordings of real-life ward care, when healthcare staff are trying to help a person with dementia get up early after hip fracture surgery. We will involve people with dementia in decisions to take part and get agreement from their families before we record anything. We have done this successfully in two previous studies. We will record up to 50 episodes of care on three trauma orthopaedic wards. We will identify specific, practical recommendations and 'teachable' approaches: ways of speaking, or sequences of requests or instructions. We will work with people with dementia, family carers, educators and clinicians to do this. We will use clips of videos in future communication training.
Read the detailed description
Research question: What healthcare professional (HCP) communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia (PLWD) following hip fracture surgery?
Background: 75,000 people are admitted to hospital with a hip fracture each year, half of whom have dementia. Outcomes are worse for PLWD. Fewer than half regain their pre-fracture mobility and a third die within a year. Best practice is for rapid fracture surgery, and early mobilisation - getting out of bed, standing or walking, by the day after surgery. This is associated with better outcomes, fewer complications and shorter hospital stay. PLWD are less likely to mobilise early. Dementia affects communication, judgement and reasoning. PLWD may be less able to communicate pain, anxiety, understand and follow HCP instructions, and see the benefits of mobilising early. Practitioners vary in how they communicate. Identifying HCP communication practices that are effective in achieving early mobilisation ('what works') will allow the description and dissemination of best practice.
Methods: 'Conversation analysis' (CA), is a socio-linguistic research method, which looks at the fine detail of the language we use and responses to it. We will use CA to identify specific and teachable communication practices that HCPs use. We will recruit up to 100 healthcare professionals, up to 50 people with dementia and up to 50 family members or friends who may be present during the video recording. We will recruit HCPs in advance, and PLWD, if possible, before their surgery. We will video record up to 50 interactions on 3 trauma orthopaedic wards when HCPs are supporting PLWD to mobilise. CA will be used to reveal systematic patterns in interactions, and successful practices. We have experience in conducting video research with PLWD on acute wards. We will use an established protocol for recruitment, consent and data collection, developed with user input and acceptable to ethics committees.
Findings: Findings will inform practical communication guidelines for HCPs, which will be immediately useable by staff on wards.
- Conditions
- Dementia, Hip Fracture, Early Mobilisation, Communication Research, Communication, Communication Skills
- Keywords
- Dementia, Hip fracture, Early mobilisation, Conversation analysis, Communication, Surgery
- Medical subject headings
- Dementia, Hip Fractures, Communication
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Qualitative research
Conversation analysis
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Feb 2026
- Study startFeb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DementiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of NottinghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nottingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07418268
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25055
- Other IDs
- NIHR208740
- Acronym
- VOICE-HF
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Qualitative data - restrictive consent provisions.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Communication Practices to Achieve Early Mobilisation of People Living With Dementia Following Surgery for Hip Fracture: a Conversation Analytical Study ('VideOing to Improve Communication Through Education - Hip Fracture', VOICE-HF)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07418268
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VOICE-HF / 25055
- Conditions
- Dementia, Hip Fracture, Early Mobilisation, Communication Research, Communication, Communication Skills
- Keywords
- Dementia, Hip fracture, Early mobilisation, Conversation analysis, Communication, Surgery
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of NottinghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This goal of this study is to identify ways that healthcare professionals communicate that are effective in helping a person living with dementia to stand or walk after surgery for a broken hip (hip fracture). We aim to identify 'what works' in successfully helping people with dementia to mobilise early, and share this in practice. The main question the research aims to answer is:
What healthcare professional communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia following hip fracture surgery?
We will use a research method called 'Conversation Analysis', to look at the fine detail of the language healthcare professionals use and responses to it. We will make video recordings of real-life ward care, when healthcare staff are trying to help a person with dementia get up early after hip fracture surgery. We will involve people with dementia in decisions to take part and get agreement from their families before we record anything. We have done this successfully in two previous studies. We will record up to 50 episodes of care on three trauma orthopaedic wards. We will identify specific, practical recommendations and 'teachable' approaches: ways of speaking, or sequences of requests or instructions. We will work with people with dementia, family carers, educators and clinicians to do this. We will use clips of videos in future communication training.
Detailed description
Research question: What healthcare professional (HCP) communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia (PLWD) following hip fracture surgery?
Background: 75,000 people are admitted to hospital with a hip fracture each year, half of whom have dementia. Outcomes are worse for PLWD. Fewer than half regain their pre-fracture mobility and a third die within a year. Best practice is for rapid fracture surgery, and early mobilisation - getting out of bed, standing or walking, by the day after surgery. This is associated with better outcomes, fewer complications and shorter hospital stay. PLWD are less likely to mobilise early. Dementia affects communication, judgement and reasoning. PLWD may be less able to communicate pain, anxiety, understand and follow HCP instructions, and see the benefits of mobilising early. Practitioners vary in how they communicate. Identifying HCP communication practices that are effective in achieving early mobilisation ('what works') will allow the description and dissemination of best practice.
Methods: 'Conversation analysis' (CA), is a socio-linguistic research method, which looks at the fine detail of the language we use and responses to it. We will use CA to identify specific and teachable communication practices that HCPs use. We will recruit up to 100 healthcare professionals, up to 50 people with dementia and up to 50 family members or friends who may be present during the video recording. We will recruit HCPs in advance, and PLWD, if possible, before their surgery. We will video record up to 50 interactions on 3 trauma orthopaedic wards when HCPs are supporting PLWD to mobilise. CA will be used to reveal systematic patterns in interactions, and successful practices. We have experience in conducting video research with PLWD on acute wards. We will use an established protocol for recruitment, consent and data collection, developed with user input and acceptable to ethics committees.
Findings: Findings will inform practical communication guidelines for HCPs, which will be immediately useable by staff on wards.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Other
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients, healthcare professionals, relatives/friends on 3 trauma orthopaedic wards at one acute hospital
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- have a documented diagnosis of dementia
- be either waiting for hip fracture surgery or have had hip fracture surgery within the previous 7 days
- have someone who can act as their personal consultee, in case they are assessed as lacking capacity during the study.
- be registered, student or assistant healthcare practitioners
- be involved in assessing, supporting or encouraging PLWD to mobilise post-hip fracture surgery
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patients will be excluded if we are unable to gain informed consent or consultee agreement, or if they are expected to die within 7 days.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Qualitative research
Time frame: 1 year
Conversation analysis
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Qualitative data - restrictive consent provisions.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Dementia and Hip Fracture, run by University of Nottingham.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Qualitative research (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Feb 2026.