The Effect of Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and Nursing Guide Application on Postoperative Patient Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of nursing guide application (NGA) on patient outcomes in patients followed up according to the modified early warning score (MEWS) in the postoperative period. Design: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 252 patients who underwent surgical intervention under general anesthesia in a university hospital between July 29, 2022, and October 31, 2022. Findings: Results showed that the development of complications was less in the study group (SG) compared to the control group (CG) during anesthesia (P = .027), in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) (P = .017), and in the clinic (P = .001). It was found that the duration of stay in PACU in the CG was significantly shorter than in the study group (P < .001), and as the duration of stay in PACU in CG decreased, the MEWS increased (r = −0.201, P = .024). We found that there were fewer patients transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) after PACU (P = .007), the MEWS was lower, and the number of nursing interventions applied to patients was higher (P < .05). Conclusions: In patients followed up according to MEWS, NGA had a positive effect on preventing the development of complications and shortening the intervention time for complications, decreasing ICU admission, decreasing MEWS and increasing the number of nursing interventions. Based on the results, it may be recommended to use MEWS+NGA in the early postoperative period as it positively affects patient outcomes.