ABSTRACT

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed to determine the problems faced by surgery patients at their home in the first month after their surgery.

This study was conducted by a university hospital’s surgery clinics between April and June 2007. 196 voluntary patients were included in the study following a surgery. Data was collected through questionnaires in two phases: (1) prior to the patients’ discharge, face to face and (2) through a telephone interview one month after the discharge.

The average in-hospital stay for surgery patients was established to be 11.10±7.63 days. It was established that the rate of information giving regarding home care after discharge was 57.1%. In the study, it has been determined that the patients had experienced problems related with especially pain (70.9%), circulation (40.8%), exercise and activity (32.1%) and self-care at home.

In order to prevent the problems patients are having at home after surgery, a planned discharge education, a written educational pack they can use at home, counselling/support over the phone and home-care services might be recommended.

Keywords: Surgery, postoperative period, home care