Fathia Ahmed Mersal^1,, Nahed Ahmed Mersal², Hoda Ahmed Hussein³

Long immobilization periods lead to overall complication and have been associated with poor functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of educational guidelines for prevention of immobilization complications on caregivers' performance and patients' functional condition. Quazi experimental design was utilized for conducting the study. Two purposive samples of 45 immobilized patients and their caregivers from orthopedic wards in El demerdash hospital, Cairo, Egypt, were randomly divided into study and control groups. Data were collected through; Self-Administered Structured Questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics and knowledge. Observational checklist also used to assess caregivers' practice. PULSUSE profile used to assess patients' functional condition. Results: There was statistically significant improvement of caregivers' knowledge and practice regarding prevention of immobilization complications and improvement of patients' functional condition in the study group after implementation of educational guidelines when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Educational guidelines improve the caregivers' knowledge and practice regarding prevention of immobilization complication. Recommendations: It is suggested to apply these educational guidelines on the caregivers of immobilized patients and to replicate the study on a larger study sample in different settings to generalize the results.

educational guidelines, prevention, immobilization complications, caregivers' performance, patients' functional condition