Effect of Implementation of Continuous Care Model on Mothers’ Anxiety of the Children Discharged from the Pediatric Surgical Unit

INTRODUCTION: Child's hospitalization for surgery is a source of anxiety for the child and the family that persists for a long time after discharge. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate solutions in this regard. This study aimed to investigate the effect of implementation of continuous care model on anxiety in mothers of children discharged from pediatric units of educational hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 64 mothers of children hospitalized in surgical units were categorized in two groups (experimental and control). The intervention was a continuous care model including orientation, sensitization, follow up, and evaluation stages. We used Spielberg's Anxiety Questionnaire to assess mothers’ anxiety before, 1 week, and 1 month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, (t-test and analysis of variance) using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the mean anxiety scores of the experimental group were 58.9, 36, and 31.4, respectively, before, 1 week, and 1 month after the intervention (P < 0.001). These scores were 57.5, 55.8, and 49.7, respectively, for the control group. t-test results showed that the mean anxiety scores of the experimental group were significantly less than that of the control group at 1 week and 1 month after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, use of the continuous care model led to a decrease in mothers’ anxiety during their children's discharge from the pediatric surgery units. Therefore, we suggest the implementation of this model in pediatric units.