Follow-Up Phone Calls After Colorectal Surgery

Sponsor

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT00474097

Collaborator

(none)

100

Enrollment

Location

21.9

Duration (Months)

4.6

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief 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.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Colorectal Surgery Colorectal Neoplasms Colitis, Ulcerative Diverticulitis Colonic Polyps

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.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

100 participants

Observational Model:

Case-Only

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

Follow-Up Phone Calls After Colorectal Surgery to Assess Patient Satisfaction and Post-Operative Outcomes

Study Start Date :

Feb 1, 2006

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2007

Actual Study Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2007

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

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 [not specific]

Secondary Outcome Measures

to track readmissions, complications and emergency room visits via telephone calls to ensure communication between the patients and the surgical office is optimal. [not specific]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects who are 18 years of age and older
Subjects of either sex
Subjects who will undergo any moderate or major colorectal surgery requiring an overnight hospital stay at University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Subjects who agree to participate in the study program and provide written informed consent
Diagnoses such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rectal or colon cancer, colon or rectal polyps and diverticulitis

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients in the middle of three part surgery or had recent surgery (i.e., back for stoma closure for J-pouch)
Patients with diagnosis of rectal prolapse, condyloma, and any conditions that require non-invasive outpatient procedures
Pregnant women, minors, psychiatric patients and prisoners