Development and validation of an evidence based educational program for adults undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in the United Arab Emirates

[摘要] Patients' knowledge about the effectiveness of interventions is nowrecognized as an important facilitator of the implementation of evidence in practice.Evidence-based, patient education programs aim to impart knowledge about theefficacy and effectiveness about interventions to individuals. However, there iscurrently a lack of structured evidence-based educational programs to educatepatients about the evidence-base for interventions prescribed by the healthprofessionals in the field of orthopaedics.OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to develop and validate an Arabicversion of an evidence-based educational program for patients who are scheduled toundergo ACL reconstruction surgery in UAE, based on available evidence collatedthrough a systematic review process.METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to generate clinicalrecommendations which were used to develop the evidence-based educationalprogram. The evidence-based information was derived from secondary research todetermine which rehabilitation strategies were most effective in improving outcomemeasurements following ACL reconstruction surgery. A pre-final draft of theevidence-based educational program was prepared and forward and back translatedfrom English into the Arabic language. Feedback groups of ACL patients andphysiotherapists were used to determine the content and face validity of the program.The final draft was validated in a group of 40 ACL patients waiting to undergo ACLreconstruction surgery at Zayed Military hospital and Abu Dhabi Knee and SportsMedicine Centre in the UAE, using checklists.RESULTS: A total of 40 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery consentedto participate in this study. All the subjects were male. The age range was between18 to 38 years old with mean age of 28.5 years (SD 5.75). Most of the patients (65%)underwent ACL reconstruction surgery to the right knee. Of the total sample (n=40),the majority of the subjects who participated in this study (90 %), had ACL surgery forthe first time. Most of the responses to the evidence-based educational programchecklist were positive.ivCONCLUSION: It can be recommended that the newly-developed evidence-basededucational program is a valid tool which can be given to ACL patients prior to ACLreconstruction to prepare them for the rehabilitation postoperatively. By informingpatients of their condition, the expected outcomes of their condition and the effect ofdoing exercises to improve their condition, the patients will be more encouraged topartake in rehabilitation, as they know it is for their own good. This will ultimatelyimprove overall patient care and improve management of ACL patients.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University