Effect of Nurse-Led Education and Tele-Interventions on Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: a Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Patients who have undergone CABG with median sternotomy * Proficiency in reading and writing in Greek * Patients who provide written informed consent for participation in the study * Patients who have access to a mobile phone and know how to use it * Patients without difficulties in vision, speech, or hearing * Patients at intermediate or high risk for developing surgical site infections, based on their scores in the risk stratification models described below Exclusion Criteria: * History of psychiatric illness, recent history of alcohol and/or substance abuse, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease * Presence of an active infection within 2 weeks prior to the surgical procedure * Preoperative hospitalization \> 2 days * Concurrent surgery on the aorta or heart valves * Urgent or emergency nature of the surgical procedure * Re-sternotomy aimed at surgical re-exploration of bleeding or implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cases of cardiac arrest * Patients in whom the sternum has not been closed after the completion of the surgical procedure and who are transferred to the cardiothoracic unit without sternum closure * Active endocarditis * Life expectancy \< 6 months * Lack of a smartphone