Efficacy of Predefined Discharge Instructions for Mothers on the Quality of Life and Post-Operative Recovery of their Children after Abdominal Surgery

Background: Pediatric health care has shifted toward family-centered care that is based on close involvement of the child's family members in pediatric care. Increased mothers’ education and awareness about caring child undergoing surgery can prevent or minimize postoperative complications and improve a child’s adoption. Hence we have conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of predefined discharge instructions for mothers on the quality of life and post-operative recovery of their children after abdominal surgery. Materials and methods: Experimental design was used to conducted this study at the pediatric surgical unit at Benha Specialized Pediatric Hospital affiliated to Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population. Random sample of 80 mothers with their children were selected and divided equally into study and control group. Five tools were used for data collection; I: Interviewing questionnaire, II: Knowledge assessment sheet, III: Pediatric quality of life scale, IV: Abdominal surgery impact scale, and V: Post-operative complications assessment sheet. Results: There was a highly statistical significant difference between study and control groups regarding total level of mothers' knowledge after instructions intervention where P˂0.001.The total mean scores of pediatric quality of life scale and abdominal surgery impact scale showed no significance differences between the two groups pre-discharge instructions where p-value = 0.062 & 0.079 respectively, while, a significant difference was observed between the two groups after one month and three months post- discharge instructions intervention p value ˂0.000 & p <  0.05 respectively. As well as, postoperative complications were significant lower score among children in the study group after one month and three months compared with the control group where p <  0.05. Conclusion: The predefined discharge instructions have an important role in the increasing mothers' knowledge regarding caring children post abdominal surgery, which enhancing recovery via decreasing post-operative complications and improving children's quality of life. Recommendation: Providing children and their parents who schedule for abdominal surgery with adequate care instructions before hospital discharge is necessary.