IDEAL Discharge Education Program

Background: Patients after laparoscopic abdominal surgery are frequently seen with complications such as pain and infection after discharge, which affects the readmission rate of patients to hospital. It is predicted that these complications will be reduced with IDEAL (Include, Discuss, Educate, Assess, and Listen) discharge education given during discharge and patient satisfaction will increase.

Objectives: The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate the effect of discharge education prepared in accordance with IDEAL discharge planning recommendations on discharge satisfaction levels and readmission rates in laparoscopy abdominal surgery patients.

Methods: Patients were recruited from an internationally accredited hospital in Kocaeli, Turkey between February and August 2024. This study was conducted on 62 patients (31 in each intervention and control group). Participants in the intervention group received the nurse-led IDEAL Discharge Education Program (IDEP) and the control group received a standard 15-minute face-to-face discharge education the day of discharge day. The IDEP is a nurse-led, structured discharge education program in accordance with IDEAL Discharge Planning that uses the teach-back method. IDEP is an individualized discharge educational program for surgical patients that utilizes the teach-back method and a printed booklet. Data on discharge education satisfaction was measured at day of discharge (T1), and rehospitalization and readmission was assessed at 1-month after discharge (T2). Outcomes were analyzed with Independent Samples t Test and Chi Square.