The Effects of Discharge Training and Postdischarge Counseling on Quality of Life after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is associated with different postoperative problems such as lengthy rehabilitation period anddecreased quality of life (QOL). Objective: This study aimed to investigate theeffects of discharge training and post discharge counseling on QOL after CABG. Methods: This quasi‑experimental study was carried out on a conveniencesample of 100 patients who underwent CABG surgery in Seyedoshohad HeartHospital, Urmia, Iran. Using a nonrandom assignment technique, patients wereal located to a control and an intervention group. Patients in the interventiongroup were provided with an educational booklet as well as discharge trainingand post discharge counseling. Training and counseling services continued upto 6 weeks after hospital discharge. Patients in the control group only receivedroutine discharge and postoperative services. The 36‑item Short Form Surveywas used to measure QOL both in the admission day and 6 weeks after hospital discharge. A home follow‑up form was also completed for all patients 2 and10 days and 6 weeks after hospital discharge. The data were analyzed via thepaired‑sample t, independent‑sample t, Chi‑square, Fisher’s exact, Mann–WhitneyU and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Results: The baseline mean scores of QOLin the control and the intervention groups were respectively 46.89 ± 11.91and 46.53 ± 15.04, with no between‑group difference (P = 0.90). Six weeks after hospital discharge, the mean score of QOL in the intervention group was significantly greater than the control group (93.19 ± 4.45 vs. 47.00 ± 13.43;P 0.001). Conclusions: Discharge training and postdischarge counseling areeffective in improving postoperative QOL among patients who undergo CABG surgery.