LEARNING NEEDS OF ADULT PATIENTS SURGERY

Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the learning needs of adult surgical patients.

Methods: The study design used was cross-sectional and descriptive. The University Hospital of Central Anatolia in Turkey/Sivas. Four hundred and twenty three adult surgical patients were included. Data, questionnaire and The Patient Learning Needs Scale- (PLNS), Turkish version, were used. The scores were then analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, independent sample t test, ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The average age of patients was 47.69. The mean total score of PLNS is 180.15 and the highest level of significance is of treatment and complications sub-dimension with 3.96. Marital status, type of surgery and the information provided at discharge, on the PNLS total score, were statistically significant.

Conclusions: According to the results this study, the information provided is insufficient associated with discharge for surgical patients and is patients request more information. Ensuring that surgical patients’ informational needs have been met prior to hospital discharge will contributes for successful self-management of at home and increase the recovery and the prevention of complications and rehospitalization after discharge.