The development of discharg planning among patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty in Phrae hospital

Abstract

Background:   Osteoarthritis of knee is the most common chronic pain in elderly. Total Knee Arthoplasy (TKA) is a surgical procedure treatment for patients. A good discharge planning for TKA patients will help them to recovery, no complications and have a good quality of life.

Objective:   To compare the effectiveness of a new discharge planning and routine care discharge planning in paients undergoing Total Knee Atrhoplasty.

Study design: Interrupted time design studied in the Buddhist monk, female orthopedic and male orthopedic department at Phrae hospital. Twenty two subjects were assigned to the control group, who received routine care discharge planning studied from April 2018 to June 2018. The intervention group of 22 subjects, who received a new discharge planning was conducted between July 2018 and September 2018. The research instruments comprised of the video media, TKA handbooks for patients and caregivers, discharge planning guideline for TKA (D M-E-T-H-O-D), TKA knowledge assessment form, and a questionnaire for nurses' satisfaction towards discharge planning. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, rank-sum test and exact probability test.

Results:   The results found that the mean scores of flexion, abduction ability and pain score in the control group and the intervention group were not statistical significantly different. However, the mean knowledge scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group, different at 11.4±0.7 points and 9.6±2.6 points (p=0.003). Moreover, the satisfaction of the control group was intermediate level (63.6 %) while the intervention group was high level (59.1 %) (p<0.001).

Conclusions:  It is suggested that nurses should apply this discharge planning together with the video media when caring for TKA patients to enhance confidence in self-care continuously and efficiently.

Keywords:  discharge planning, total knee arthroplasty