title: Call to care: the impact of 24-hour postdischarge telephone follow-up in the treatment of surgical day care patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient satisfaction and effective management of postoperative complaints are important factors in determining the success of outpatient surgery programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In September 2013, a 24-hour postdischarge telephone follow-up (TFU) call was initiated by surgical day care nurses at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC. The study group was contacted to evaluate the effectiveness of the TFU in identifying and addressing postoperative complaints and determining the level of satisfaction with discharge instructions and care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 854 patients were contacted. Overall, 313 (36.7%) received TFU and 541 (63.3%) did not; these served as our control group. Independent sample t-tests revealed that patients who received TFU had significantly fewer postoperative complaints compared with the controls (.19 vs .28, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Day surgery patients receiving TFU reported fewer postoperative concerns. Results of this study suggest that a TFU call results in increased patient satisfaction with discharge care and is an appropriate tool to address patients' postoperative complaints and improve patient-reported outcomes.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Shay-Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada. Electronic address: adkelly@uvic.ca.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Services, Island Health, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bachand
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Services, Island Health, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Island Health, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Island Health, Victoria, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001955:British Columbia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Day surgery; Discharge care; Patient-reported outcomes; Postoperative complaints