Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Patients with a vegetative state (VS) are completely dependent on caregivers in
all physical aspects of their lives. Caring for such patients comes with a great deal of difficulty for
family caregivers. As a result, family caregivers must be fully trained and prepared for this role. The
present qualitative study was conducted to investigate the educational challenges faced by family
caregivers of VS patients for home care preparedness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present qualitative study was conducted through the conventional
content analysis method from August 2020 to September 2021 in two provinces of Iran (Sistan and
Baluchestan Province; and Razavi Khorasan Province). Fourteen family caregivers of patients in a VS
were included in the study. Semi‑structured and in‑depth interviews were employed to collect data.
The Graneheim and Lundman method was utilized to conduct the data analysis using MAXQDA2020
software. Data collection continued until data saturation and the identification of main categories.
RESULTS: As indicated by the data analysis, three categories of “unmet educational needs,”
“confused caregiver,” and “searching for practical knowledge” which included 19 sub‑categories
described the experiences of family caregivers of patients in a VS concerning challenges they went
through in preparation for patient care at home. Participants’ experiences revealed that despite the
inadequacy of educations provided by health‑care providers on knowledge and skills required by
family caregivers, they were committed to caring for the patient and trying to acquire the required
knowledge.
CONCLUSION: Results indicated that inadequate education and the lack of family caregivers’
contribution to caring for the patient in the VS during their stay in the hospital impedes their acquisition
of adequate knowledge and skill to care for patients at home. Therefore, healthcare system
policymakers should be planning to eliminate the educational barriers faced by family caregivers
and expand the educational activities of hospitals’ homecare centers to provide educational support
of family caregivers after the patient’s discharge.

Abstract BACKGROUND: More than one‑half of people with diabetes need at least one surgery in their
lifespan. Few studies have addressed how to manage the needs of these patients after discharge
from the hospital. The present study is designed to determine the effect of home care on readmission
of Type 2 diabetic patients who underwent surgical procedures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a randomized clinical trial. Sixty‑nine
patients with Type 2 diabetes undergoing surgery were assigned to the intervention and control
groups via blocking order in the selected educational hospitals of Isfahan 2019. Home care
was performed for 3 months with interprofessional team approach. Data collection tools were
re‑admission checklist. Data were entered in SPSS software version 23 and were analyzed by
nonparametric tests.
RESULTS: The background characteristics in the intervention and control groups were not different.
The frequency of readmission in the control and intervention groups from the time of discharge until
3 months later was 25.7% and 18.9%, respectively. Frequency of readmission in the intervention
and control groups was not significant in 3 months from discharge, P > 0.05. The mortality rate was
11.4% and 0% in control and intervention groups, respectively, P < 0.05.
CONCLUSION: It can be argued that continued home care can decrease the rate of readmission
and mortality rate in patients with Type 2 diabetes who will discharge from surgical wards.