Discharge training and counseling: Functional autonomy and post-discharge problems of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

36 patients aged 65 years and above who underwent their first elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery at a university hospital in Turkey. Exclusions: death, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays, delirium, intracoronary stent implantation, other surgical interventions during CABG, psychological and mental disorders, and not living in the city where the surgery took place.

Discharge training (using a booklet and PowerPoint presentation) and counseling provided by the investigator preoperatively, during the hospital stay, and via home/phone follow-ups on the 2nd and 10th post-discharge days and at the end of the 9th week.

Routine nursing care with no planned discharge teaching or counseling, assessed preoperatively and at the end of the 9th week.

Functional autonomy (measured by the Functional Autonomy Measurement System - SMAF) and post-discharge problems at the end of the 9th postoperative week.patient reported