Effects of transitional care based on the social support theory for older patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A quasi‐experimental trial

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effects of transitional care (TC) programs on the health outcomes of discharged older patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods A total of 160 older patients were recruited from two campuses of a public teaching hospital in China. Patients were grouped according to the campus to which they were admitted. The TC programs commenced one day before discharge and lasted 6 months after discharge. Repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used to analyse the effects of the TC programs. Results The TC programs improved the discharge of older patients with OVCF in their activities of daily living (ADLs), pain levels and social support, and decreased fracture recurrence rates. Conclusions This study provides evidence of concurrent clinical improvements and health outcomes in discharged older patients with OVCFs from the effects of TC programs based on social support theory.