The Effects of a Telehealth Program in Inguinal Hernia Patients Receiving One-Day Surgery on the Activity Daily Living, Complication, and Rehospitalization Rate
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Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of a telehealth program on activities of daily living, postoperative complication, and rehospitalization rates among patients undergoing one-day inguinal hernia surgery.
Design: This study used experimental, two-group, pretest–posttest design.
Method: This study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in one province of Thailand. The study population comprised patients aged 18 years and older who underwent elective one-day inguinal hernia surgery in an operating room. A total of 52 participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly assigned into two groups using computer generated randomization: a control group receiving routine care (n = 26) and an intervention group receiving a telehealth care program, in addition to routine care (n = 26). Data collection instruments included: (1) a demographic questionnaire, (2) the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living to assess physical functioning, (3) a rehospitalization assessment form, and (4) a postoperative complication assessment form.
Main findings: The intervention group demonstrated a significantly higher mean score for activities of daily living compared with the control group. In addition, the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between two study groups in terms of rehospitalization rates.
Conclusion and recommendations: The telehealth program effectively improved postoperative functional recovery and reduced the incidence of complications among patients undergoing one-day inguinal hernia surgery. The telehealth program should be further developed for hospital use.
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