The effect of discharge education on surgical recovery, sexual function and quality of life in patients undergoing prostatectomy

ABSTRACT PhD. Thesis Dilruba ÇELEBİ Manisa Celal Bayar University Graduate School of Education Department of Nursing Supervisor: Asist. Prof. Dilek ÇEÇEN ÇAMLI Research; It was conducted to determine the effect of discharge education on surgical recovery, sexual function and quality of life in patients who underwent prostatectomy. This semi-experimental research was conducted between 30.03.2022 and 31.03.2023 in the Urology Service of a university hospital in the western region of Turkey and in the Urology Service of a private hospital in the same region. In determining the sample size in this study, as a result of G-Power analysis, the number of patients was determined as 88, with intervention group = 45 and control group = 45. Following the discharge training given to the patients by the researcher after discharge, patients in the intervention and control groups were interviewed on the day of their hospital stay and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks after discharge. In the analysis of the data, number percentage distribution and descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics, chi square test, t test in independent groups and Mann Whitney U test were used to evaluate the homogeneity of the groups. The normal distribution of the data was checked with the Shapiro Wilk test. For normally distributed data, t-test was used in independent groups and one-way analysis of variance was used for repeated measurements. For data that were not normally distributed, Mann Whitney U test, Friedman analysis of variance and Spearman Correlation Analysis were used for repeated measurements. It was determined that there was a significant difference in the surgical recovery scores of the patients in the intervention group over time. It was determined that the average scores of the patients at the 12th week after discharge were higher than the average scores of the pre-discharge, 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks after discharge. (x2: 165.772, p<0.001). It was determined that there was a significant difference in the surgical recovery scores of the patients in the control group over time (p<0.05), and the scores of the patients at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks after discharge were higher than their pre-discharge and 2nd week scores after discharge. It was found that the average scores in the intervention group were higher than the average scores of the patients in the control group. Discharge education was found to have a positive effect on surgical recovery. It was found that there was no significant difference between the postoperative international sexual function index average scores of the intervention and control group patients (p>0.05). It was determined that 36.4% of the patients in the intervention group and 47.7% of the patients in the control group had severe postoperative Erectile Dysfunction. There was a significant difference between the postoperative general health perception, vitality/energy, mental health sub-dimensions, mental health status and general quality of life average scores of the intervention and control group patients (p<0.05), and the average scores of the patients in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group. It was found to be lower than the average scores of the patients. It was observed that the overall quality of life decrease was greater in the control group compared to the intervention group. Discharge education after prostatectomy is recommended due to its positive effects on surgical recovery and quality of life. Keywords: Prostatectomy, discharge education, quality of life, surgical recovery, sexual function. 2024, 168 pages