The Effect of Discharge Education on Discharge Readiness and Surgical Recovery in Patients with Intertrochanteric Fracture Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether discharge education given to patients undergoing intertrochanteric femur fracture surgery affects their surgical recovery and readiness for discharge.Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 patients from the orthopedic clinics of a university and a state hospital in eastern Turkey between May 2023 and July 2024. Data collection tools included a sociodemographic form, the Toronto Wound Symptom Assessment System, the Discharge Readiness Scale, and a Patient Evaluation Form. Data were gathered at four time points: pre-discharge and at the second, fourth, and eighth weeks post-discharge. The intervention group received structured discharge education and a booklet, while the control group received routine care. Follow-ups were conducted via telephone. Statistical analyses included descriptive metrics, chi-square tests, and repeated measures ANOVA.Results: A significant change was observed in surgical recovery scores within both groups over time (p0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the groups in the mean readiness for discharge score or in any of its sub-dimensions (p>0.05).Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that the discharge education given to patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures did not create a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups on the patients' readiness for discharge and surgical recovery processes.