Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy: home visit versus telephone follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the post-discharge follow-up required for patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy on an outpatient basis and to determine if there was a significant difference in mean concern scores and satisfaction level of patients followed up by a home visit versus a telephone call.


METHODS
Prospective 2-group comparison.


METHODS
A 221-bed acute care community hospital in western Canada.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-nine patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy and agreed to be discharged on the day of operation.


METHODS
Subjects were systematically allocated to receive either a home visit (HV, n = 72) or a telephone call (TC, n = 77) from a registered nurse on the evening of operation. During the follow-up, patient concerns were self-rated, interventions provided by the nurse were recorded, and nurses' perceptions of the need for the home visit were reported. A 48-hour telephone survey was used to determine patient satisfaction.


METHODS
Patient concern scores, patient satisfaction with follow-up, readmission rates and use of emergency room services within 30 days of operation.


RESULTS
Subjects in the TC group had a significantly lower mean concern score (p < 0.001) and were significantly more satisfied with their follow-up (p = 0.034) than those in the HV group. Nurses perceived that 75% of the home visits were not necessary. Readmission rate was less than 1% (1 HV) and use of emergency room services was 6% (3 HV, 6 TC).


CONCLUSIONS
Telephone contact is an acceptable method of follow-up for patients who have undergone outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The call should be made later in the evening on the day of operation or the next morning.
Fallis
W M
WM
Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Department of Research and Evaluation, Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg.
Scurrah
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013689:Telephone