Total joint arthroplasty patients' perception of received knowledge of care.
BACKGROUND
The education of orthopaedic patients is an essential component of nursing, because it has been shown to have a positive impact on outcomes of care and treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To describe total joint arthroplasty patients' perceptions of received knowledge on discharge.


METHODS
Patients (n = 123, mean age 68 years) undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty self-administered a structured instrument, including 6 different dimensions of knowledge.


RESULTS
Patients perceived that they received most knowledge on the biophysiological dimension and least on the financial dimension. Patients' discharge destination and positive evaluation of hospitalization were related to their perceptions of the knowledge received.


CONCLUSIONS
Individually tailored education is needed to meet patients' educational needs. Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients have enough knowledge even if they do not ask for this knowledge.
Montin
Liisa
L
ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital, Invalid Foundation, Tenholantie 10, Helsinki, Finland.
Johansson
Kirsi
K
Kettunen
Jyrki
J
Katajisto
Jouko
J
Leino-Kilpi
Helena
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000523:psychology*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged