title: Information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients during the transition from hospital to home.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients. Few reports have described learning needs of postsurgical cancer patients during the initial weeks after hospitalization. Responding to information needs during the transition to home is important for helping patients and families to appropriately manage illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, using records kept for patients assigned to the experimental group in a larger study completed in 1996. The sample was 148 American patients surgically treated for a new diagnosis of prostate, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, or head and neck cancer. Information needs were identified from topics addressed by advanced practice nurses during 4-week episodes of home care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis of 3,280 statements of teaching interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teaching themes were instructing on postoperative self-care, advising on symptom management, clarifying the illness experience, discussing psychological responses, and preparing patients and families to coordinate follow-up care. Topics included describing the expected course of illness, informing about community resources, identifying events that require physician notification, and advising on pain management. Topic emphasis varied by site of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information needs of elderly postsurgical cancer patients during transition from hospital to home are extensive. Teaching interventions ranged from giving concrete instructions about care of a surgical wound to interpreting complex information about options for cancer treatment. Elderly postsurgical cancer patients need informational support during the transition from hospital to home.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1029, USA. lchughes@utmb.edu
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCorkle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013663:Teaching