PURPOSE: In developing countries, delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment often complicate the post-operative course for children with congenital heart disease, who require complex care to optimize cardiac function. Effective recovery depends on collaboration between healthcare providers and parents, with health education serving as a critical support mechanism. However, research in these settings has faced limitations restricting generalizability, and the role of nurses in health education remains underutilized. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led health education program for parents of children undergoing congenital heart surgery. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was employed in a Vietnamese pediatric cardiac facility. Eligible parent-child dyads were assigned to control or intervention groups based on enrollment period, separated by a washout period. The intervention group received five teaching sessions facilitated by teach-back plus standard care, while the control group received standard care only. Data were collected at admission, discharge, first and second outpatient appointments. Co-primary outcomes were parental knowledge and child weight. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight dyads were recruited (control: n = 74; intervention: n = 64). Primary caregivers were mothers (92.8%) in their 30s, with high school the most common education level. Children's median age: 6 months (IQR = 2.43, 14.47), with 50% (n = 69) undergoing low-to-moderate risk surgical procedures. Compared to controls, the intervention group showed significantly greater parental knowledge (b = -3.24, 95% CI -3.79, -2.70, p<.001), increased child weight (b = -0.07, 95% CI -0.11, -0.04, p<.001), lower risk of abnormal oxygen saturation (RR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.14, 5.59, p = .022). CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led health education can enhance parental knowledge and improve child growth and cardiac function, highlighting its potential implications in routine pediatric cardiac care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Further research should confirm long-term effects and broader applicability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12623000388617p (18/04/2023).
Tran et al. (2026) studied this question.