Effect of Preoperative Education on Short Term Postoperative Outcomes in Hysterectomy

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative education on improving short term postoperative outcomes in hysterectomy. Short term postoperative outcomes include physiological vital parameters (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, Blood pressure and Inspiratory capacity) and other parameters (Ambulation, Demand for additional analgesics, Total amount of analgesics received and Length of stay) in this study. Methods: A quasi experimental study was conducted among 300 women admitted in gynaecology ward for elective hysterectomy in District Tertiary care hospital in Salem, Tamilnadu from September 2012 to January 2014. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling technique allotted into experimental group (n₁=200) and control group (n₂=100) based on eligibility criteria. Tools used were: Demographic Performa and flow chart to note down physiological vital parameters and other parameters. The experimental group received comprehensive preoperative education including postoperative exercises before surgery and control group had routine hospital care. Collected data was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: There was no significant difference revealed on physiological vital parameters (p>0.05) except for inspiratory capacity. Experimental group ambulated earlier (30.33±8.594) as compared to control group (41.56±6.960) and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). There was no significant difference found between groups on demand for analgesic and total amount of parenteral analgesics received. Mean length of stay was more in experimental group (17.65±3.587) as compared to control group (14.31±3.349). Conclusion: The present findings revealed providing preoperative education was effective to improve inspiratory capacity and to initiate early ambulation in women after hysterectomy.