Internet-enhanced continuity of care reduces postoperative complications and improves outcomes in pediatric strabismus surgery.

Objective: To explore the application value of Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care in strabismus ambulatory surgery and evaluate its impact on postoperative complications, children's quality of life, and parental satisfaction.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 257 children who underwent strabismus ambulatory surgery in our hospital from February 2022 to December 2023. The children were divided into a control group (n=149), which received routine nursing services and telephone follow-up, and an observation group (n=108), which received Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care through a mobile medical platform. Evaluations were conducted using the Chinese versions of the Empowerment of Parents in The Intensive Care (EMPATIC-30), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC).

Results: The observation group showed significantly better outcomes in postoperative VAS scores, PedsQLTM scores, CDI scores, and MASC scores compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The readmission rate in the observation group (10.19%) was significantly lower than in the control group (22.82%) (P=0.009). Parents with children in the observation group scored significantly higher on all dimensions of the EMPATIC-30 compared to those in the control group (all P<0.0001). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group (6.48%) compared to the control group (18.79%) (P=0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the intervention program and surgical time were independent risk factors affecting postoperative complications.

Conclusion: Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative complications in children undergoing strabismus ambulatory surgery, improves the quality of life and mental health of the children, and enhances parental satisfaction and engagement.