The Effects of Preoperative Education on Self-care Knowledge, Self-care Behaviors, and Nursing Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of preoperative nursing education on self-care knowledge, self-care behavior, and nursing outcomes in patients following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Data were collected between July 1 and September 7, 2012 in K university hospital in Korea. The participants who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were assigned to an experimental group (n=27) or a control group (n=29). After pretests for self-care knowledge, the experimental group was then provided with preoperative education using PowerPoint slides and leaflets on the day before the surgery. On postoperative day (POD) 2, 7 nursing outcomes were administered. On POD 7, the participants self-reported self-care knowledge and self-care behavior. The increase in the self-care knowledge was significantly greater in the experimental group. The levels of self-care behaviors and nursing outcomes except for ambulation were significantly higher in the experimental group. Providing preoperative education to patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was effective in improving self-care knowledge, self-care behaviors and nursing outcomes.