Road to recovery.
The role of the nurse in giving information to patients has grown considerably following the work of researchers such as Hayward (1975), Boore (1978) and Wilson-Barnett (1978). From admission to discharge the nurse has a valuable educational role to play in helping patients come to terms with their present position and preparing them for the future. The questions facing nursing now are not whether nurses should undertake this role, but how well do they provide information? Do patients act on advice? And how far should relatives be included in the process of patient education? These are the questions that prompted the present study, in which 43 people completed questionnaires 6 to 8 weeks following discharge from hospital after cardiac surgery. Eighty-two per cent were completely or 'on the whole' satisfied with the information given, though the perceived adequacy varied between topics; 70% reported some associated behaviour change and in each case their relatives had been involved in receiving pre-discharge advice.
Daniels
L
L
Rose
A
A
Wall
E
E
Rees
C
C
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires