Methods
prefracture disability, fracture
This was a qualitative study embedded within a multicentre, feasibility RCT (HIP HELPER). The HIP HELPER protocol is published elsewhere, and the study is now complete.The present study reports the experiences and contextual factors of undergoing hip fracture surgery and dyad’s experiences of giving and receiving informal care. Patient and caregiver perspective of the experimental caregiving training programme are to be reported with the feasibility study results. Group allocation (intervention or control) was, therefore, not a significant consideration for the present study. We followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) reporting guidelines.Fourteen caregiver dyads were purposively sampled by age, prefracture disability and hospital locations. Patients were aged 60 years and above, had undergone hip fracture surgery and had a nominated individual who acted as an informal caregiver. An informal caregiver was defined as someone who was expected to informally provide care, assistance, support or supervision in activities of daily living (ADLs) for at least 3 hours per week, but not on a paid basis. This may have included personal ADLs such as toileting, washing, dressing and eating; and/or more complex tasks such as managing money, shopping and household chores.