Effects of continuous health education by telephone follow-up in empty-nested elderly patients with stroke in the countryside

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of continuous health education by telephone follow-up on activity of daily living, anxiety, life satisfaction, medication compliance and self-management behavior in empty-nested elderly patients with stroke in the countryside. Methods A total of 120 stroke inpatients with countryside household register of Neurology at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from Taizhou Enze Medical Center were selected by convenience sampling from January 2013 to December 2015. They were randomly divided into control group (n=60, routine health education at discharge from hospital and when returning visit) and observation group (n=60, routine health education at discharge from hospital and when returning visit + continuous health education by telephone follow-up) . The activity of daily living, anxiety, life satisfaction, medication compliance and self-management behavior were evaluated with the Barthel index (BI) , hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) , life satisfaction scale (LSIA) , Morisky questionnaire and the self-management behavior scale for stroke patients. Results After intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the scores of BI, HAMA and LSIA of patients in two groups (t=32.34, 19.77, 10.34; P<0.05) . There were also statistical significances in the scores of safe medication management, rehabilitation management, diet management, interpersonal management, emotional management, daily life management, disease management and the total score of self-management behavior of patients between two groups (t=6.56, 16.87, 15.14, 13.08, 15.30, 15.16, 12.23, 61.98; P<0.05) . The difference in the score of medication compliance of patients in two groups was significant (t=10.33, P<0.05) . Conclusions The continuous health education by telephone follow-up for empty-nested elderly patients with stroke in the countryside is simple and easy. It can remarkably enhance the activity of daily living and life satisfaction, reduce anxiety and tension, and improve the self-management behavior of stroke patients and medication compliance. Key words: Aged; Stroke; Health education; Telephone follow-up