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Tuesday, 1 November 2011: 8:50 AM
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify interventions to prevent lymphedema for post mastectomy patients.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify Papilla Gown that assists women recovering from a mastectomy to easily dress and manage the necessary drainage system.
Jackson-Pratt drains are placed in the surgical site and remain there for seven to fourteen days to prevent fluid build-up and facilitate healing. Immediately after mastectomy, patients experience of a number of physiological and psychological problems that may include discomfort and later complication of lymphedema. There were 145 women randomized to one of four groups: education only, gown only, education and gown, and routine education and routine gown. All 145 participants completed the study questionnaires before surgery and at 1 week, and Forty six (32%) of these participants completed the questionnaires at 6 months postoperatively. The setting for the study included two clinics and hospitals associated with University Medical centers. To examine statistical significance at each time point after surgery, A mixed-model for repeated-measures was performed on knowledge and tape measurement to see whether there were any statistically significant differences between the four groups by education and Papilla Gown use. All reported p-values are two-sided. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.2 for Windows. The mean age of the sample (N=145) was 55 years old. The study revealed that the patients who received the Papilla Gown and the educational program had decreased incidence of lymphedema and increased knowledge levels. The lymphedema arm measure score was significantly increased for participants who did not wear the Papilla Gown (p < .01) with a 1.9 cm increase in arm circumference. The study will lay the foundation for a model that can be employed by hospitals to increase patients’ knowledge and help them implement the lymphedema Papilla Gown education program. The program helps to improve women’s recovery by providing education related to postoperative exercises and self-care and wearing the Papilla Gown which can reduce the fear of arm immobility and the pulling sensation of drains and decrease lymphedema incidence after breast surgery.
See more of: Clinical Models for Women's Health Care
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions