The Effect of Informing the Relatives of Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery

In the study, patients were assigned to the study and control groups via the randomizer.org website.

The Caregiver Information Form was administered by the nurse researcher in a face-to-face meeting with the caregiver. The Patient Introduction Form was filled out by the researcher from the patients'; files. The Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale was administered by the researcher through a face-to-face interview with the patient. The Caregiving Burden Scale was introduced to the caregiver by the researcher and filled in by the caregiver himself. The Caregiver Tracking Form, prepared to track the patient and the caregiver, was applied to the caregiver by the researcher in order to determine the caregivers zero point. The first data collection was carried out 48 hours after the patient was admitted to the service and before information was given. Caregivers in the study group were given 45 minutes of training and a booklet in line with the training booklet prepared according to daily life activities aimed at improving the patients quality of life and reducing the caregiver's care burden. The caregivers in the study group were given the researcher's contact number and were able to reach the researcher whenever they needed.

Patients in the control group underwent standard procedure; No information, training booklet or contact number was provided. The Caregiver Information Form was administered by the researcher in a face-to-face meeting with the caregiver. The Patient Introduction Form was filled out by the researcher from the patients'; files. Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale was administered by the researcher. The Caregiving Burden Scale was introduced to the caregiver by the researcher and filled in by the caregiver himself. The Caregiver Tracking Form, prepared to track the patient and the caregiver, was applied to the caregiver by the researcher in order to determine the caregiver's zero point. Initial data were collected between 48 hours after the patient was admitted to the ward and before discharge.

Caregiving burden scale and multidimensional quality of life form were applied to both groups at the 4th week, 8th week and 12th week. Patients in the intervention group were informed again according to their needs.

Inclusion criteria

for patients:

• Over 65 years of age,
• Does not have any psychological problems and can communicate in Turkish
• Literate,
• Having undergone open heart surgery for the first time
• After being taken to the Cardiovascular Surgery Service, they are stable after completing the 48-hour critical period,
• Elderly individuals who agreed to participate in the research constituted the patient sample of the study.

Inclusion criteria

for caregivers

• The person who is primarily responsible for the patient care and will accompany the patient for 12 weeks, Caregivers,
• Between the ages of 18-65,
• Does not have any psychological problems and can communicate in Turkish,
• The caregiver sample was created by caregiver individuals who agreed to participate in the research.

Exclusion criteria

for patients:

• Those with neurological or metabolic diseases that may cause functional disability
• Previously had open heart surgery
• Patients with mental and cognitive dysfunction
• Patients who did not attend at least one of the post-surgical evaluations for any reason were excluded from the sample.

Exclusion criteria

for caregivers

• Those with neurological or metabolic diseases that may cause functional disability
• Transferring the patient care to someone else during the 12-week working period,
• Caregivers who did not attend at least one of the post-surgical evaluations for any reason were excluded from the sample.