Effectiveness of Integrated Education to Reduce Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting, and Dizziness after Abdominal Surgery under General Anesthesia

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 11; p. 6124
• Main Authors: Seok, Yoonhee, Suh, Eunyoung E., Yu, Soo-Young, Park, JeongYun, Park, Hyunjin, Lee, Eunsil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 06.06.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdominal surgery; Anxiety; Blood pressure; Brain cancer; Brain research; General anesthesia; Lying; Nausea; Nurses; Nursing education; Pain; Patients; Vomiting
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116124

This study presents an anticipatory integrated education program for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness prevention (anti-NVD education program) for patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The anti-NVD education program for nephrectomy patients consisted of the following: the causes of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and dizziness; effective deep breathing and how to use an inspirometer; postoperative nausea and vomiting; effective methods of patient-controlled analgesia; and the stepwise standing up method to prevent dizziness. A study was conducted among 79 adults (experimental group: n = 40, control group: n = 39). The degree of nausea and dizziness was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS), and vomiting and the frequency of antiemetic use were measured in terms of the number of patients. The experimental group, which received the anti-NVD education, showed remarkably lower levels of nausea (p = 0.013) and dizziness (p < 0.001) than the control group. The frequency of antiemetic use 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the experimental group (p = 0.03). This study proved the efficacy of the anti-NVD education program for reducing postoperative nausea and dizziness. This program can be used as a noninvasive nursing intervention to prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness among patients undergoing abdominal surgery.