Impact of Nursing Educational Program on Reducing or Preventing Postoperative Complications for Patients after Intracranial Surgery

Abstract

Intracranial surgery means any surgery performed inside the skull to treat problems in thebrain and surrounding structures. Aim: Evaluate the impact of nursing educational program on reducing or preventing postoperative complications for patients after intracranial surgery. Subjects and methods: Sixty adult patients had intracranial surgery (burr hole, craniotomy and craniectomy) were included in this study. Their age ranged from18-65 years old, fully conscious after operation. Patients divided into two groups; control group (30 patients who received routine care) and study group (30 patients who received nursing educational program). Three tools were used for data collection; tool I patient assessment sheet, tool II nursing educational program after intracranial surgery and tool III patient evaluation sheet. Results: A good improvement in total knowledge scores of study group patients after application of nursing educational program. Significant reduction and/or prevention of systemic and neurosurgical postoperative complications for study group patients after application of nursing educational program. Conclusion:Improving patients` knowledge in study group had a favorable effect in reducing or preventing systemic and neurosurgical postoperative complications than in control group. Recommendation: Establishment of health care educational center in neurosurgery department to educate patients about their conditions.

Keywords: Nursing educational program– Intracranial surgery– Postoperative complications.