{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]],"date-time":"2025-04-08T18:40:06Z","timestamp":1744137606431,"version":"3.40.3"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]],"date-time":"2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744070400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000848","name":"University of Edinburgh","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000848","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Fractures are a common and a major cause of disability and death, with up to 10% of fractures failing to heal normally. These fractures are called \u201cfracture non-unions\u201d. Currently, debate on the impact of non-union\u00a0in the medical and research communities exists. Unfortunately, this indirectly minimizes the impact of fracture non-unions, and\u00a0hinders further research work\u00a0which could reduce unnecessary patient suffering. In this study, we aim to explore the lived experiences of fracture non-union patients in one-on-one interviews to determine whether fracture non-union is a burden for patients, and if so, to outline the burden on patients and their close circles.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Eligible participants will include adult patients who currently have\/previously (in the last 36 months) had a long bone fracture that has not healed normally. Data will be collected through in-depth face-to-face or telephone interviews, complemented by quantitative data captured using the standardized Euroqol EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. With consent, interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using NVIVO software, we will develop grouped codes and categories to describe and provide insight into the experience of fracture non-union patients. EQ-5D-5L, and EQ VAS data will be presented using a measure of central tendency and a measure of dispersion to provide insight into the overall health related quality of life for patients.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The study was approved by the Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales Approval (approval date: 27 March 2024; IRAS project ID: 337652). Results from this study aim to improve the information and support provided to fracture non-union patients. Findings will be disseminated to the study participants, healthcare professionals, and local commissioners through peer-reviewed articles and at academic conferences.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0318636","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]],"date-time":"2025-04-08T17:58:21Z","timestamp":1744135101000},"page":"e0318636","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Lived Fracture Experience (LiFE) study: A mixed methods qualitative study research protocol exploring the lived experiences of fracture non-union patients"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9316-6787","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Irene","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carol","family":"Porteous","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hamish","family":"Simpson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]]},"reference":[{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0318636.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e580","DOI":"10.1016\/S2666-7568(21)00172-0","article-title":"Global, regional, and national burden of bone fractures in 204 countries and territories, 1990\u20132019: A systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019","volume":"2","author":"A-M Wu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Healthy Longev"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0318636.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.24095\/hpcdp.43.2.05","article-title":"Injuries among Canadian children and youth: An analysis using the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth","volume":"43","author":"C Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can"},{"key":"pone.0318636.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oliveira T, Kendler DL, Schneider P, Juby AG, Wani RA-O, Packalen M, et al. 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