Reasons for Nursing Telephone Counseling From Individuals Discharged in the Early Postoperative Period After Breast Surgery

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of and causes of asking for telephone counseling in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and breast‐conserving surgery (BCS), and discharged one night after surgery. METHOD. This is a randomized descriptive study. This study was conducted on surgery service of a university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, with MRM and BCS patients. This study sample included 174 patients. Inclusion criteria were staying in hospital for one night and being discharged, ability to talk on the phone, and being a candidate for MRM or BCS. Data were collected on a form that was developed by the researcher after consultation with experts, reviewing THE related literature, and clinical observations. The patients were given two mobile telephone (for two of the researchers) and home telephone number (for two of the researchers) that had an answering machine and were encouraged to call or leave a message for health problems they experienced at home. RESULTS. A higher rate of the patients undergoing mastectomy asked for telephone counseling. The rate of the women asking for telephone counseling was very high within the first 6 weeks of discharge. The leading causes of asking for telephone counseling were wound problems, arm exercises, and difficulties in adapting to daily living activities. The women also had a psychological problem: fear of inability to recover. CONCLUSIONS. The study found that home follow‐up of patients undergoing mastectomy was particularly important.