A randomized trial of a Telephone Reassurance Programme for patients recently discharged from an ophthalmic unit.
Patients often experience problems after discharge, for instance with housekeeping or a general lack of information. The effect of a nurse-initiated Telephone Reassurance Programme (TRP) on ophthalmic patient outcomes was investigated. Patients in the intervention group were phoned by a nurse 3-6 days after being randomized and discharged home. Patients in both intervention and control groups received a questionnaire 1 week and 1 month after discharge to assess the patient outcomes 'Informational needs', 'Uncertainty', 'Emotional complaints' and 'Functional limitations'. In an attempt to explain the lack of statistically significant results, the limitations related to the participants, intervention and outcomes are discussed.
Boter
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Research Centre Primary-Secondary Health Care, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mistiaen
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Groenewegen
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D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015277:Hotlines / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires