Follow-Up Phone Calls After Colorectal Surgery
Condition: Colorectal Surgery; Colorectal Neoplasms; Colitis, Ulcerative; Diverticulitis; Colonic Polyps
MeSH terms: Colorectal Neoplasms; Colitis; Diverticulitis; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colonic Polyps
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to assess if follow-up telephone calls after colorectal surgery
      affects a patient's satisfaction, the outcome of their surgery, and their quality of life. In
      addition, readmissions, complications and emergency room visits can be tracked via these
      telephone calls, ensuring optimal communication between patients and the surgical office.
    

Detailed description: 
      Follow-up with patients after surgery is necessary to assess levels of rehabilitation, answer
      questions and expresses an attitude of caring, as well as assist in marketing procedures for
      the hospital or institution (Fallis, 2001). Surveillance after discharge from the hospital
      may be difficult as most patients are no longer monitored by health care professionals. If
      home health care is not required, the patient may not have contact with his/her doctor or
      nurse until the follow-up appointment which frequently is 4- 6 weeks post surgery.

      There is evidence in the literature that telephone contact is beneficial for patients. The
      strongest and most current evidence came from a meta-analysis by Meade (2004) on research
      supporting phone calls post-operatively for hospitalized patients. This analysis provided a
      significant and valid review of health care professionals providing this service, looking at
      various patient populations and different hospital settings. 29 articles were published from
      1981 to 2004 and reviewed to gather a compilation of research findings in this area.
      Regardless of the design of the research, the findings suggest that follow-up phone calls to
      patients after discharge provide invaluable opportunities to enhance practice in the
      following areas: Appraisal and evaluation of patient education, Practice improvement trends,
      Quality of care, Medication compliance and adherence to discharge instructions, Evaluation of
      overall hospital performance.

      There is no evidence specifically addressing telephone contact after discharge in the
      colorectal surgery population which will be the basis of this study. Nurses providing
      follow-up phone calls to patients in the early post operative phase may assist in preventing
      or minimizing the effects of postoperative complications by reinforcing discharge
      instructions, answering patients' questions, and assessing their concerns. Potential serious
      complications may therefore be addressed early.

      The purpose of this study is to assess if follow-up telephone calls after surgery affects
      patient satisfaction, surgical outcomes and quality of life in the early post-operative phase
      after colorectal surgery. In addition, tracking of readmissions, complications and emergency
      room visits via telephone calls can ensure communication between the patients and the
      surgical office is optimal.
    

Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Colorectal Surgery clinic patients
      
Keywords: Colorectal Neoplasms; Colitis, Ulcerative; Diverticulitis; Colonic Polyps; Crohn Disease