Boter 2000.

Methods	DETAILS OF STUDY AIM OF INTERVENTION: to decrease postdischarge problems. AIM OF STUDY: To investigate the effect of a nurse‐initiated telephone reassurance program on postdischarge problems reported by recently discharged ophthalmic patients. STUDY DESIGN: RCT. METHODS OF RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS: patients were informed about the research project during their hospital stay and informed consent was obtained. Immediately after discharge patients were randomized by an independent researcher and using opaque envelopes (not published information). INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION IN STUDY: adult ophthalmic patients/ at least 2 days in hospital/ dutch speaking. EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION IN STUDY: admitted from another ward or care institute to the pthalic unit/ discharged to institutional care setting/not able to answer the telephone/not having a telephone. INFORMED CONSENT OBTAINED? yes. ETHICAL APPROVAL? yes. FUNDING: unclear. ASSESSMENT OF STUDY QUALITY ALLOCATION CONCEALMENT: adequate. EPOC‐ QUALITY CRITERIA 2002: C. high risk of bias. METHOD OF GENERATING RANDOMISATION SCHEDULE: not specified in article; additional information from authors obtained says opaque envelopes were used for randomization by an independent researcher. METHOD OF CONCEALMENT OF ALLOCATION: randomization after discharge by independent researcher. BLINDING: ·PARTICIPANTS: no. ·PROVIDER/S: no. ·OUTCOME ASSESSOR/S: no. INTENTION TO TREAT ANALYSIS: not stated. BASELINE COMPARABILITY OF INTERVENTION AND CONTROL GROUPS: yes. STATISTICAL METHODS AND THEIR APPROPRIATENESS: t‐test/u‐test. CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT: not stated.
Participants	DESCRIPTION : ophthalmology patients / surgery patients. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: The Netherlands. SETTING: discharged home from an acute care setting. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: ELIGIBLE: 425. RANDOMISED TO INTERVENTION: 196. RANDOMISED TO CONTROL: 154. INCLUDED IN ANALYSIS INTERVENTION GROUP: 143. INCLUDED IN ANALYSIS CONTROL GROUP: 154. AGE: RANGE OR MEAN (SD): 66.6 (16.1). GENDER (% MALE): 43. ETHNICITY: unclear. PRINCIPAL HEALTH PROBLEM OR DIAGNOSIS: ophthalmic disease (cataract 43%, glaucoma 15%, retina disorder 14%, cornea disorder 13%). OTHER HEALTH PROBLEM/S: 93% self‐supporting in ADL/IADL. TREATMENT RECEIVED/RECEIVING: ophthalmic surgery. OTHER SOCIAL/DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS: 38% living alone.
Interventions	DETAILS OF INTERVENTION: Patients were phoned 3‐6 days after discharge by an experienced nurse. Before calling the nurse went through a structured form containing relevant information about the patient's admission and discharge conditions. During the call, the nurse used a structured interview schedule, covering 10 aspects. all aspects were discussed with the patient. Six nurses participated in the project. DETAILS OF CONTROL: usual care. CO‐INTERVENTION? no. DETAILS OF CO‐INTERVENTIONS: usual care. DELIVERY OF INTERVENTION Frequency: 1. First time at day 3‐6 after discharge. Period: PROVIDERS: nurse. INTERVENTION QUALITY: good. FIDELITY/INTEGRITY: unclear.
Outcomes	NUMBER OF OUTCOMES: 4. OUTCOME / TOOL / TOOL VALIDATED / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT / TIME OF ASSESSMENT A.Psycho‐social health of patients (uncertainty, anxiety, informational needs, mood, coping, quality of life, social activity, ..): Informational needs / self‐developed / partly, adaptation of the Patient Learning Need Scale (Bubela, 1990) / questionnaire / 1 and 4 weeks after discharge. Uncertainty / Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (1989) / yes / questionnaire / 1 and 4 weeks after discharge. Emotional functioning / Problems after Discharge Questionnaire (Mistiaen, 1997) / yes / questionnaire / 1 and 4 weeks after discharge. B.Physical health of patients (eg. functional status, self‐care, self‐efficacy, independence, ..): Functional limitations / Problems after Discharge Questionnaire (Mistiaen, 1997) / yes / questionnaire / 1 and 4 weeks after discharge. C.Other consumer oriented outcomes (eg. treatment adherence, knowledge, adverse events, ..): D. Health service delivery oriented outcomes (eg. hospital readmission, health services utilization, ..):
Notes	·CHANGES IN TRIAL PROTOCOL ·CONTACT WITH AUTHOR ·POWER CALCULATION? yes. ·RECORD IF THE STUDY WAS TRANSLATED FROM A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. ·RECORD IF THE STUDY WAS A DUPLICATE PUBLICATION.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate