Development of a 24-Hour Post-Anesthesia Care Model via Tele-Nursing at the Raj Prachasamasai Institute

Abstract

This research aimed to develop and evaluate a 24-hour post-anesthesia care model via tele-nursing at the Raj Prachasamasai Institute. This research was conducted at the post-anesthesia unit and structured into four steps:                    1) problem and needs assessment to take care of 24-hour post-anesthesia patients, 2) development of a 24-hour post-anesthesia care model 3) testing and improving the model, and 4) model evaluation. The study employed purposive sampling to select a total of 15 participants which included 12 post-anesthesia care nurses and 3 anesthesia nurses for all four phases of the study and 25 patients who underwent the surgery were included in the third phase. Data were collected by combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. The tools used in conducting the research included: 1) In-depth interviews questions which were checked for validity by 3 experts and had an Index of Item Objective Congruence was 0.89; 2) the focus group guidelines that were implemented according to the model; and 3) the suitability and satisfaction form, which had an Index of Item Objective Congruence of 0.9. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis was used for the qualitative data.

The research results showed that, after the care model implemented, when there was any concern regarding post-anesthetic care, post-anesthesia care nurses could direct their concerns or any early warning signs they observed to anesthesia nurses via the tele-nursing care system within 10 minutes. Consequentially, the patients received the basic nursing care needed to address any issues within 15 minutes. Therefore, there were no severe complications that occurred. The results of this model showed that the participants’ opinions were at the “high level” regarding the suitability of, and satisfaction with, the overall model. The suitability of the 24-hour communication system was rated at the highest level. Participants reported being “most satisfied” every aspect of the model. In conclusion, this care model is useful for the monitoring of 24-hour post-anesthesia patients. It provides standard post-anesthesia care and reduces the occurrence of severe complications after anesthesia.