Optimizing Patient Care: The Role of Designed Nursing Guidelines in Enhancing Patients’ Literacy and Outcomes Peri-Nephrolithotripsy in Ismailia City

Elbqry, Mohamed Goda; Ashraf Abd EL-Fatah, Mohamed; Mohamed Elmansy, Fatma

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.438166

Optimizing Patient Care: The Role of Designed Nursing Guidelines in Enhancing Patients’ Literacy and Outcomes Peri-Nephrolithotripsy in Ismailia City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

² Infection Control Specialist Nurse, 30th of June at the International Urology and Nephrology Center, Ismailia Medical Complex

10.21608/ejhc.2025.438166

Abstract

Background: Nephrolithotripsy is considered a noninvasive treatment option for patients with urolithiasis measuring less than 2 cm, to fragment stones into smaller pieces for easier elimination. The success of this procedure depends on multiple factors, including patient education and adequate pre-procedural preparation. Nursing-led patient preparation, which provides comprehensive health information and treatment planning, can significantly improve patient outcomes. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of implementing designed nursing guidelines on enhancing patients’ literacy and improving outcomes peri-nephrolithotripsy in Ismailia City. Subject and Methods: A quasi-experimental design with two groups was utilized. A convenient sample of eighty-four adult patients diagnosed with urolithiasis and undergoing lithotripsy was recruited from the 30^th of June Unit at the International Urology and Nephrology Center, Ismailia Medical Complex, between 2023 and 2024. Two tools were employed for data collection. Tool I was a patient literacy interview questionnaire, used to assess the demographic characteristics, and literacy level of the studied patients. Tool II was a modified nephrolithotripsy outcomes sheet, which included the numeric pain rating scale, the hospital anxiety scale, and adverse effects related to lithotripsy. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in patients’ overall literacy about nephrolithotripsy, increasing to 75.8% in the intervention group compared to 53.3% in the control group after implementation of the designed nursing guidelines. Furthermore, the intervention group demonstrated better clinical outcomes than the control group, including reduced pain, anxiety, and adverse effects during the first month following lithotripsy. Conclusion: The implementation of structured nursing guidelines significantly improved patients’ literacy about nephrolithotripsy and enhanced their clinical outcomes following lithotripsy, including reductions in pain, anxiety, and related adverse effects. Recommendation: Future studies should replicate these findings using a larger probability-based sample and a longer follow-up period to confirm and expand upon these results.

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