Final answer:
The main purpose of including family in postoperative teaching is to provide emotional support and enhance patient recovery, aiding both patient adherence to care plans and promoting a positive environment for healing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary goal of including family members or significant others in postoperative teaching is to provide emotional support and enhance the patient's recovery. This approach taps into the vital role of social support systems in promoting health and well-being after surgery. Family involvement can facilitate better outcomes by ensuring the patient has a support network that can assist with both emotional and practical needs, such as understanding discharge instructions, managing medication schedules, and assisting with daily activities.
Family members often help maintain a positive environment and can encourage the patient to adhere to the recommended care plans. As such, they must receive proper guidance on postoperative care. This support is consistent with research, such as the study by McMillan et al. (2006), indicating that coping skills interventions with family caregivers can have a significant impact on the care of patients.