Authors (including presenting author) :
Wong SL(2), Wong KY(2), Lee MY(1), Lee WM (1), Wong KY(3), Chan WW(3)
Affiliation :
(1) Kowloon East Cluster Breast Centre, United Christian Hospital (2) Nursing Services Division, United Christian Hospital (3) Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital
Keyword 1: :
telehealth service
Keyword 2: :
per-operative education program
Keyword 3: :
breast cancer surgery
Introduction :
Tele-health technology has significantly transformed healthcare delivery, particularly in the area of peri-operative care. Traditionally, pre-operative follow-ups are conducted via telephone, a method that limits nurses’ ability to accurately assess patients’ emotional states and readiness for surgery. To address this gap, the Breast Centre at United Christian Hospital implemented a pre-operative tele-education program aimed at improving patient preparedness and emotional well-being before surgery.
Objectives :
To provide a comprehensive pre-operative tele-educational program for breast cancer patients to enhance their readiness for surgery and reduce pre-operative anxiety.
Methodology :
Patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery at United Christian Hospital were invited to join the tele-education program. Breast care nurses first assessed each patient’s capability to use the HA-Go Tele-Health platform and obtained mutual agreement for participation. Selected patients received on-site training on how to use the HA-Go system. One week before surgery, the breast care nurse conducted a tele-health session that included nursing assessment, demonstration of wound and drain care, guidance on external prosthesis use, and upper limb exercise education. Emotional assessment and counseling were also provided. After surgery, patients completed a feedback survey during their follow-up visit.
Result & Outcome :
Between 01 September 2024 and 31 December 2025, a total of 60 tele-health sessions were completed, with 58 patients providing feedback. Using a five-point Likert scale, 100% of patients reported that increased readiness for surgery and understood the logistic of patient journey. 98% indicated improved wound and drain care and greater awareness of upper limb lymphedema precautions. 98% reported a reduction in pre-operative anxiety. 96% agreed that tele-health education enhanced their awareness of potential complications. Overall, 93% of participants were satisfied with the tele-health service and expressed willingness to participate again. Clinical impact: No AED admission related to pre-operative anxiety among breast cancer patients were recorded during the study period. Patients’ feedback demonstrated the beneficial effects of the tele-education program. In addition to reducing anxiety and improving preparedness, the program also minimized cross-infection risk for neoadjuvant patients, convenient, saved transportation and waiting time, and allowed for more in-depth discussions with nurses. Conclusion Tele-health services provide a valuable platform for assessing patients’ emotional states and delivering individualized reassurance, thereby directly addressing pre-operative anxiety. Moving forward, this tele-health approach can be extended to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy patients to support symptom management and ongoing counseling.
