An investigation of the effects of preoperative interdisciplinary patient education on understanding postoperative expectations following a total joint arthroplasty.

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of a preoperative interdisciplinary educational intervention on understanding postoperative expectations following a total joint arthroplasty. The study sample consisted of 156 patients scheduled for elective total joint replacement surgery. The approach for this study was a two-group quasi-experimental design. The treatment group received an additional interdisciplinary educational session whereas the control group did not. Subjects who chose to attend the program were compared with those who received standard outpatient teaching in the preadmission testing center. Subjects who received the interdisciplinary teaching intervention were significantly better at verbalizing and demonstrating postoperative skills, and they rated all aspects of the interdisciplinary educational session as very satisfactory. The study demonstrated that the preoperative interdisciplinary educational program for patients scheduled for total joint replacement surgery had a positive effect on the understanding of postoperative expectations. The educational sessions have continued providing an option that will enhance preoperative education.