Development and Evaluation of Preoperative Teaching Materials for CABG/Valve Surgery Patients

Background: Patients often experience anxiety and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of undergoing open-heart surgery. Randomized controlled trials have found preoperative education materials and counseling to reduce levels of patient anxiety, depression, and perioperative complications following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)/valve surgery.

Objective: The purposes of this performance improvement project were to develop preoperative teaching materials for cardiac surgery inpatients and evaluate their usability.

Methods: Existing CABG/valve teaching materials were evaluated. A new booklet was developed through an iterative process. An expert panel reviewed the final draft using the patient education materials assessment tool for printable materials (PEMAT-P). Patients were surveyed for usability and usefulness.

Results: Expert reviewer results for using the PEMAT-P tool for understandability and actionability were 99% and 100%. Of 62 teaching booklets and patient preparedness questionnaires distributed, N = 11 (17.7%) were returned. Nearly all respondents (90.9%) agreed or strongly agreed for questions related to how well the booklet prepared them for surgery. Likewise, 90.9% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with statements about design and content of the booklet. The hospital consumer assessment of healthcare providers and systems performance reports from October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 showed improvement for discharge information (96.2% from 92.2%), symptom to look for (100% from 94.9%), and care transitions (66.2% from 54.3%).

Conclusions: The development and implementation of evidence-based preoperative teaching materials help patients and families prepare for open-heart surgery and self-care after discharge.

Implications for nursing: Nurses' utilization of preoperative teaching materials improves patient satisfaction, preparedness, and usefulness.