title: The effects of the critical pathway for inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: This study was conducted to develop a case management program using the critical pathway (CP) as an intervention method for patients with an inguinal hernia for a herniorrhaphy, and to determine the effects of the CP on the period of hospitalization, medical costs, the rates of postoperative complaints, patient satisfaction and the nurses' job satisfaction. One hundred patients (60 in the experimental group, 40 in the control group) who were admitted to a general hospital in Seoul for inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled in this study. The results showed that the period of hospitalization and the postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced in the CP group. In addition, the total medical cost, was lowered significantly by use of the CP for patients undergoing an inguinal herniorrhaphy. The rates of postoperative complaints, patients' satisfaction and the information on the treatment were enhanced after implementing the CP. These results suggests that the CP may be a useful tool for enhancing the health care outcome by decreasing the period of hospitalization, overall medical costs and by improving the quality of care, all of which can benefit the patients, the patients' family, caregivers and the hospital.
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of Korea College of Nursing, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. hrpark@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hye-jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: In-Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Ho-ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nam-cho
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019091:Critical Pathways; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications