Effects of Telenursing combined with a Self-efficacy Program on Care Giver's Ability to Care for Stroke Patients after Home Discharge, Yangchumnoi Hospital, Yangchumnoi District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

This quasi - experimental research was conducted to compare the ability to perform daily routines, complications, and recovery duration of stroke patients in experimental and control groups, and to compare the knowledge, competency, self-efficacy, satisfaction and quality of life of care givers before and after using telenursing in conjunction with the self-efficacy programs in regard to caring for stroke patients after discharge home. Participants were 30 pairs of stroke patients and their caregivers selected according to the criteria and divided into an experimental group (15 pairs) and comparison group (15 pairs). Study was conducted over 16 weeks. The research tool focused on three aspects of the program, specifically 1) discharge planning, 2) the self-efficacy promotion program, and 3) the telenursing guidelines. The eight-part tool used to collect data consisted of the 1) demographic data sheet, 2) ability to perform daily routines assessment, 3) care giver’s knowledge to care for stroke patient assessment, 4) care giver’s competency to care for stroke patients assessment, 5) perceived self-efficacy assessment, 6) care giver satisfaction assessment, 7) complication record forms, and 8) the WHO quality of life questionnaire, Thai version.  The combined questionnaire had a content validity index of 0.85. The reliability values ​​of parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 were 0.82, 0.84, 0.79, and 0.80, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive and t-test statistics.

Results showed that the experimental group patients had the ability to perform daily activities after the experiment at a statistically significantly higher level than before the experiment (p<.05). After the experiment, the experimental group patients did not experience any complications. The average recovery period was 3 months. In terms of care givers in the experimental group, their knowledge, care competency, self-efficacy perception, satisfaction, and quality of life after the experiment were statistically significantly higher than before the experiment (p<.05). Additionally, there were no differences in these scores before and after the experiment in the control group. The study findings indicate that the effectiveness of telenursing in combination with the use of a self-efficacy promotion program which helps promote caregivers’ knowledge and self-efficacy perception resulted in increases in their ability to care for stroke patients.