Impact of an early recovery management intervention on functioning in postoperative coronary artery bypass patients with diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Approximately 30% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures have diabetes and, as such, are at increased risk for postoperative complications and a lengthy recovery.


OBJECTIVE
To test the feasibility of an in-home early recovery management intervention to improve physical and psychosocial functioning in the diabetic CABG population.


METHODS
This pilot study was a 2-group, randomized, experimental study. The 6-week in-home early recovery intervention was delivered by way of a device called the Health Buddy (Health Hero Network, Redwood City, CA). Subjects were 49 diabetic patients who had undergone a first-time CABG procedure.


RESULTS
Although no statistical differences between groups were found, descriptively, the intervention group's baseline means on Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 subscales measuring physical functioning were lower but improved to levels comparable with that of the control group. Improvements in psychosocial functioning were comparable between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This in-home telehealth intervention may have promise for improving functioning outcomes in high-risk CABG patients with diabetes. However, weaknesses of the intervention and the need for a more focused, directive intervention were identified.
Miller
Connie
C
College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5330, USA.
Zimmerman
Lani
L
Barnason
Susan
S
Nieveen
Janet
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period