Study Overview

Effective follow-up and management of elderly post-CABG patients is important in the overall recovery process. The major purpose of this experimental study is to test the effects of the symptom management home care nursing intervention on recovery outcomes of elderly CABG patients, using a randomized, two group repeated measure design with measurements at discharge, 3 and 6 weeks, 3, 6,9 and 12 months postoperatively. One group will receive the intervention and routine care and the other group will receive only routine care. The intervention will be delivered using a device called the Health Buddy that is attached to the patient’s telephone line, able to download to a free secure Internet site daily, and can be used by health care providers for post-hospital follow-up care. Using a follow-up intervention is expected to result in better functioning, management of symptoms and fewer postoperative problems.

This page last updated by John Barrier on 02/26/2009