title: Educational intervention reduces complications and rehospitalizations after heart surgery.
abstract: The effectiveness of in-hospital self-care patient education, delivered to patients following heart surgery, is questionable, as evidence indicates individuals are not able to absorb and/or retain information at this time. In the absence of adequate instruction, individuals will not have the relevant information to engage in specific self-care behaviors, resulting in the onset of complications and/or hospital readmissions. The purpose of this pilot study was to collect preliminary evidence to demonstrate the impact of an individualized education intervention given above and beyond usual care, delivered, at two points in time, following hospital discharge. A randomized controlled trial was used in which 34 patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Chi-square analyses to examine differences between groups on complications and hospital readmission rates were conducted. Findings point to the impact of the intervention in reducing the number of hospital readmissions and complications at 3 months following hospital discharge.
authors.affiliation: 1Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fredericks
authors.forename: Terrence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care
keywords: acute care; cardiovascular; clinical focus; experimental or quasi-experimental; location of care; methods