The Impact of a Nurse-Led Educational Program Combined with Post-discharge Telephone Follow-up on the Quality of Life of Older Adults Undergoing Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: The quality of life (QOL) of older adults following cataract surgery is a critical concern. Objectives: This study examined the impact of a nurse-led educational program, combined with post-discharge telephone follow-up, on the QOL of older adults undergoing cataract surgery. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in 2024 at a governmental hospital in Iran. A total of 112 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The control group received standard hospital care and education, whereas the intervention group received the same routine care supplemented with a structured educational program. Additionally, participants in the intervention group were followed up by a nurse via telephone on the 3rd and 14th days after discharge. The QOL in both groups, before and after the intervention, was assessed using the 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire. All data were analyzed using SPSS software with descriptive and analytical tests (version 21). Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. The independent two-sample t-test showed no statistically significant difference in the mean quality-of-life scores between the groups before the intervention (P = 0.696). However, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, incorporating nurse-led education and post-discharge follow-up enhances the QOL in older adults after cataract surgery. However, as research in this field remains scarce, further investigations are needed to validate and expand these results.