Patient education after inguinal hernia surgery did not differ from routine information for pain at rest at 7 days

摘要

QUESTIONIn patients having surgery for inguinal hernia, does postoperative patient education at discharge and a follow-up telephone call reduce pain up to 1 week after surgery?METHODSDesign: randomised controlled trial. Allocation: {concealed}.*Blinding: blinded (data entry operators and data analysts). Follow-up period: 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. Setting: a hospital in Denmark.Patients: 234 patients >18 years of age having elective, unilateral inguinal hernia surgery. Exclusion criteria were planned laparoscopic or bilateral surgery and inability to complete a pain diary or communicate in Danish. Intervention: 103 patients were allocated to postoperative patient education (30-60 min), which was delivered by a project nurse at discharge and addressed previous pain experiences, analgesic use, movement and lifting, wound care, complications, relaxation, prevention of constipation, and return to work. Key points were summarised in a 78-point guide. Patients also received a follow-up telephone call 2 days after surgery. 131 patients were allocated to routine information (5-10 min), which was provided by the ward nurse before discharge and addressed pain, analgesic use, lifting, showering/bathing, suture removal, and laxative use.