Objective To explore the current status of digital health literacy among elderly orthopedic perioperative patients and its influencing factors, and to provide a basis for optimizing perioperative management and improving patients’ health management level. Methods Utilizing convenience sampling, elderly orthopedic perioperative patients from China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were chosen as the subjects between January and April 2024. For the purpose of the questionnaire investigation, the orthopedic patient functional exercise compliance scale, eHealth Literacy Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and general information questionnaire were utilized. We employed univariate analysis and multiple linear stratified regression to investigate the factors influencing digital health literacy. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the interrelationships among variables. Results A total of 143 patients were investigated. Among them, there were 53 males and 90 females. The average age was (69.91±6.35) years old. The average score of the eHealth Literacy Scale was (18.25±9.45) points, the average score of the Social Support Rating Scale was (38.44±7.76) points, and the average score of the orthopedic patient functional exercise compliance scale was (55.16±14.28) points. The determinants of digital health literacy in older orthopedic perioperative patients were social support and educational attainment (P<0.05). Social support and functional exercise adherence were mediated, in part, by digital health literacy (P<0.001). Conclusions The digital health literacy in elderly orthopedic perioperative is generally at a low level. Healthcare professionals need to pay particular attention to patients with lower levels of education. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to enhance patients’ social support from multiple dimensions, in order to improve their digital health literacy and lay a solid foundation for the precise implementation of digital health management during the perioperative.
Objective To evaluate the application of short-term preoperative blood flow restriction training (BFRT) in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Elderly patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA for knee osteoarthritis admitted to China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Jilin University between January and June 2025 were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1∶1. Patients in the control group received routine perioperative treatment, nursing care and postoperative continuous passive motion training. On this basis, the trial group received short-term preoperative BFRT. Feasibility, adherence and safety indicators were observed. The 30-second Chair Stand Test (30s-CST) was used to assess lower extremity function, and linear mixed-effects models were applied to analyze functional changes. Results A total of 185 patients were screened, among whom 160 were enrolled, yielding a recruitment rate of 86.49%. A total of 153 patients completed all follow-ups, with a follow-up completion rate of 95.63%. The training adherence rate in the trial group was 99.17%, 95.00% of patients finished all 6 training sessions, and no participants withdrew from the study due to poor adherence. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics or the overall incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P＞0.05). No deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or other serious adverse events occurred in either group during the study period. A total of 8 mild adverse events were reported in the trial group, all of which resolved spontaneously after rest or adjustment of training parameters. Linear mixed-effects model analysis revealed statistically significant between-group effect, time effect, and group-by-time interaction effect for the number of 30s-CST repetitions (P<0.05). Conclusions Short-term preoperative BFRT has good feasibility, compliance and short-term safety in elderly patients undergoing TKA, and preliminarily shows a potential effect in promoting the recovery of postoperative lower limb function. It can serve as a potential supplementary approach for perioperative prehabilitation.