Effects of Discharge Education and Telephone Follow-up on Cataract Patients' Activities According to the Model of Living

Abstract

Purpose: Assess the impact of planned discharge education and telephone follow-up of patients who underwent cataract surgery on daily living activities.

Design: A controlled comparative study.

Methods: This study was carried out on patients who underwent cataract surgery (intervention group = 72, control group = 72). Discharge education designed according to the Model of Living was used in the intervention group. Phone follow up was performed for both groups after surgery and activities were assessed.

Findings: Significant differences were found between the two groups in applying eye drops, knowledge on using old eye glasses and protecting the operated eye, conditions requiring a physician call, conditions that may deteriorate the operated eye, personal hygiene, mobilization, and sleeping (P < .05).

Conclusions: Using a Model of Living in discharge education of cataract patients and following up using a structured checklist was an effective intervention. This model can be efficiently used in postoperative education of day surgery patients.

Keywords: Model of Living; cataract surgery; discharge education; telephone follow-up.