title: Nurse-led telephone follow-up after total knee arthroplasty--content and the patients' views.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To generate information on how telephone follow-up consultations, structured by nursing status according to the VIPS-model, functioned after total knee arthroplasty. The objectives were to unfold the content of the telephone follow-ups according to the structure for nursing status and to explore the patients' views of the telephone follow-ups.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The length of stay in hospital following total knee arthroplasty has fallen markedly, and patients now have to be responsible for their recovery from a very early stage. After discharge, patients may experience a variety of health problems. A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of telephone follow-up, and information on how the telephone follow-ups functioned is relevant for implementation into clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and four case reports from telephone follow-up consultations and individual interviews with 10 patients formed the data material. Content analysis was used for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of the telephone follow-ups included dialogues relating to all key subjects for nursing status except 'culture/spirituality'. The structured Telephone follow-up was valued by total knee arthroplasties patients as representing a holistic approach and providing adequate information, counselling and support after discharge to home. Three categories were identified with regard to the patients' views: 'A means for reflection and provision of adequate information and counselling', 'Supportive' and 'Not the only resource for support and counselling'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing status according to the VIPS model is a comprehensive structure to identify the need for counselling, information and support after total knee arthroplasty. The structured telephone follow-ups were valued for representing a holistic approach and providing adequate information, counselling and support after discharge to home. Conducting telephone follow-up with a holistic approach demands specialised and broad nursing experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postdischarge follow-up is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.|Research Unit of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szöts
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konradsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solgaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Stina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bogø
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Østergaard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003376:Counseling; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013689:Telephone
keywords: content; patients’ views; telephone follow-up; total knee arthroplasty