The Effect of A New Perioperative Practice Model on Patient, Nursing And Organisational Outcomes

Study design:

A longitudinal untreated control group design with pre- and posttests will be followed.

Setting and sampling:

The study will be conducted at the Helsinki University Hospital; more specifically at the operating department K of the Peijas Hospital. The randomized patient sampling will include voluntary adult surgical patients undergoing a hip or a knee replacement procedure. The patients will be recruited during their preoperative visit (approx. 2-3 weeks prior to the operation), and an informed consent will be obtained. Approximately 12-16 patients per day are scheduled for the preoperative visits, summing up to 60-80 recruitments per week. A control group (Group A) and an experimental (intervention) group (Group B) will be formed. The sample size was checked with power analysis (2 sided test) with the following parameters: value for α = 0.05, value for power 0.8, and value for common standard deviation 0.1. The sample size for both groups (A and B) was set at 175. Considering the potential drop-out, approx. 30%, the final sample size was determined to be 245 per group. The randomization will be performed by an independent third party (i.e., nurses at the preoperative clinic). The eligible patients will draw one of two cards; one indicating that an invitation to participate the study will be given to them, and the other being empty. Patients for the Group A will be recruited on the first week and the patients for the Group B on the second week. This pattern will be repeated until the desired amount of patients is recruited. This stratification will ensure that the two groups will not be contaminated in the ward where the post-operative visits will be carried out.

Data collection and instruments: