Global evaluation of the impact of nursing interventions on rehabilitation in older patients following fracture

The world population is aging rapidly. Fractures are more frequent in older people are associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Several studies have implemented various nursing care interventions to improve health outcomes in older patients following fractures. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to study the effects of various nursing care interventions on the rehabilitation of older patients following fractures. A comprehensive search was conducted across the seven reputable databases (Epistemonikos, Cochrane, Scopus, PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science) employing four sets of keywords up to April 2025, following the PRISMA approach. The PICOS framework was developed to elucidate the research question, and studies that did not meet the specified criteria were excluded. 94 articles were included in the current review. Among the interventions, multidisciplinary intervention programs, evidence-based nursing, and comprehensive nursing programs demonstrated the highest effectiveness. Nevertheless, educational nursing interventions, exercise programs, discharge programs, family-centered care programs, and pain management programs, despite their low cost, also had a significant positive impact on patient rehabilitation. It was found that nursing interventions in the observational group, compared to the control group, significantly improved satisfaction rates and alleviate complication rates. These findings suggest that various nursing intervention programs can effectively enhance rehabilitation outcomes in older patients following fractures.