An evaluation of two different methods for preoperative physical therapy information before abdominal surgery

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients are often given preoperative information by a physical therapist with the aim of decreasing the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications and to facilitate recovery after major abdominal surgery. Studies are scarce about the effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate two different approaches for preoperative information.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University Hospital.

Methods: This is a study comparing information by the Teach-Back Method (TBM) with traditional information. Fifty patients were included. They were randomized to either of the groups when attending the preoperative visit. A follow up by telephone was conducted a few days after. The patients were asked to recall the information received. A list of 29 statements was used to record whether participants recalled the given information.

Results: The number of correct answers for the 29 statements was, in average 30.0% after TBM compared to 25.4% after traditional information (P = 0.179). In total, the patients recalled 27% of the information given. There were no significant differences between those who spontaneously gave positive feed-back regarding the information or not, those younger or older than 65 years of age, or for those who had read the written information.

Conclusion: The patients recalled no more than 27% of the preoperative information and there were only minor and non-significant differences between the groups given information by TBM or traditionally. It is of importance to further discuss and evaluate when to inform the patients and which information to give when preparing patients prior to abdominal surgery.

KEYWORDS:

• Abdominal surgery
• information
• physical therapy
• preoperative
• Teach-Back Method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Monika Fagevik Olsén is senior university hospital physiotherapist at the department of Physiotherapy at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and adjunct professor at the department of Neuroscience and Physiology/Health and Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University. Professor Fagevik Olsén is certified specialist in both ‘respiration’ and ‘gynecology, obstetrics and urology’.

Monika has been active as a researcher since 1992 and was graduated as PhD Nov 6 1998. She became an associated professor in 2005 and professor in 2015. She has written over 110 scientific articles within the fields of respiration/surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, plastic surgery, orthopedics and pedagogics. She has also written a text book and a chapter in another text book for physiotherapists. She has been a supervisor for nine doctoral students of which five as main supervisor and is currently supervising 10 doctoral students.

Additional information

Funding

The study was financed by grants from the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement [Grant number ALF GBG-718811]; Research and Development Council for Gothenburg and Southern Bohuslän: [Grant Number VGFOUGSB-672851].