Preoperative rehabilitation and education program for surgery (PREPS): A pilot randomized control trial protocol

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Health services research

Background:

• A novel prehabilitation and education program (PREPS) was developed for shoulder replacement surgery.
• The PREPS program integrates exercise, surgical preparedness, motivational interviewing, and pain management.
• It is designed to enhance patient outcomes, reduce opioid use, and lower healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and patient satisfaction of the PREPS program.
• To establish a foundation for a future large-scale multicenter trial.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 90 participants undergoing shoulder replacement.
• Participants are randomized into three groups: self-directed online PREPS, therapist-monitored online PREPS, or standard care.
• The PREPS program is delivered virtually over 6 weeks, including online modules and a handbook.

Main Results:

• Feasibility outcomes include recruitment rates, adherence, acceptability, and treatment fidelity.
• Patient outcomes will be assessed at multiple time points: baseline, pre-surgery, and 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively.

Conclusions:

• The PREPS program shows potential for improving postoperative pain, function, and patient-reported outcomes.
• This pilot study is crucial for informing a larger, fully powered trial on prehabilitation for shoulder replacement.