Differences between perioperative health education need of patients undergoing abdominal surgery and nurses' awareness: a comparative study

Abstract

Objective To explore health knowledge needs of patients undergoing abdominal surgery, and then compare these needs with patients' needs perceived by the nurses, so as to improve contents and ways of health education. Methods From July to September 2014, 208 nurses and 492 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were surveyed about health education needs, by using a self-designed questionnaire on perioperative health education need of patients undergoing abdominal surgery and general investigation, with the results compared. Results Scores of health education needs of nurses and patients were (4.50±0.40) and (4.22±0.35) (t=-9.246, P<0.01) . The nurses believed that top three ways of health education that the patients liked most were individualized guidance, health education handbooks and bulletin board, the same as patients' needs. Conclusions Nurses should take individualized health education measures with the basis of taking full consideration of the patients' actual needs. Also, training to nurses should be conducted to improve their health education ability. In this way, the patients' needs can be met to the most, and their satisfaction degree be improved. Key words: Perioperative nursing; Abdominal operation; Health education; Awareness differences