With the drastically changing healthcare market, the adoption of DRG system and the use of Critical Pathway will be increased gradually in order to care hospitalized patients qualitatively and manage cost-effectively in Korea The purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to apply and analyze the developed critical pathway to the patients with Cesarean section. 35 eligible subjects for the control group were chosen from postpartum patients who had delivered at H-hospital in Kwang-ju, and were questioned after appling previous care plan from May to Ik~cember, 1998. For the experimental group, 37 subjects vvere chosen and questioned after applying Critical Pathway service from January to June, 1999. The instruments are a critical pathway for the patients with Gesarean section developed by chung(1998) and a questionnaire that evaluate patients and family members´ satisfaction level. Also, educational materials were used to inform them in the process of Critical Pathway application.
As a result of chi-square test on general characteristics, there is significant difference between control group and experimental group only in terms of room size(p= .010).
´There are no significant differences in the average IenE;th of stay in the hospital between control group and experimental group(t=.078). Also, the average medical consult fee has no difference significantly between two groups(t= .145).
The findings showed that the experimental group with critical pathway service scored significantly higher than control group on the satisfaction level toward care services(p=.000). The items are post-operative care, postpartum exercise technique, breast feeding and breast rrrarrage through educational materials.
In conclusion, the research indicates that the application ~f planned Critical Pathway can have a positive impact on satisfaction level of inpatients with Cesarian section.
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