Effect of Designed Ureteral Stent Instructions on Patient Recovery

Abstract

Context: Ureteral stent placement is performed in up to eighty percent of patients following ureteroscopy. It is associated with significant morbidity, resulting in a reduction in general health function in another eighty percent of patients.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of designed ureteral stent instructions on patient recovery.
Methods: Quasi-experimental (pre/post-test) design was utilized in this study. The study was carried out at the urology department to be followed up through the urology outpatient clinic at Benha University Hospital from the beginning of February 2019 to February 2020 on a purposive sample of 134 patients. Four tools were used to collect the study data. These tools included a structured interview questionnaire to assess patients' knowledge regarding ureteral stents, a ureteral stent symptoms questionnaire, a ureteral stent discomfort test, and a patient's satisfaction assessment form.

Results: Showed a mean study sample age of 43.42±6.47, 83.6% were males. The study also showed a statistically significant improvement of the study group’s knowledge in the post-operative and follow-up phases (p<0.017, <0.003), as well as a decrease in total mean score in ureteral stent symptoms and ureteral stent discomfort test (p<0.001), immediately and after designed instructions.
Conclusion: Implementing designed instructions for patients with ureteral stents was effective in improving knowledge, a decrease of ureteral stent symptoms, and a decrease in patient discomfort. The study recommended manuals, information booklets, and self-instruction modules developed in areas of ureteral stent management.