The comparison of patients’ and nurses’ attitudes to health education and nurses’ participation in this process

The aim of the study is to evaluate and to compare patients’ and nurses’ opinion about information given to patients by nurses.
Materials and methods. The study was performed during April–May 2007 in two regions of Lithuania. Eight hospitals were randomly selected for the study. The study included all patients and nurses who were in therapeutic and surgery departments on the day the survey was carried out. A total of 1030 questionnaires were distributed among patients (the response rate was 85.0%), and 436 questionnaires – among nurses (the response rate was 89.0%).
Results. In most cases, patients about their disease are informed by a doctor; this was pointed out by 90.6% of nurses and 90.4% of patients. More than half of patients (65.9%) noted that they knew sufficiently enough about their disease, and 26.4% of nurses agreed. Nurses’ and patients’ opinion on the adequacy of information provided to patients by nurses differed: more patients than nurses indicated that they got enough information on their disease, health status, duration of intended operation and treatment, but nurses noted that they gave more information on nursing procedures, preparation for forthcoming tests, use of administered drugs, preparation for operation, and healthy lifestyle than it was recognized by patients. The patients who were treated in the surgery departments received less information about preparation for forthcoming tests and healthy lifestyle. Patients up to 45 years, city residents, those with higher education, and females were more interested in the above-mentioned information. Nurses who had higher education were more self-critical and more often recognized that they did not provide enough information for patients.
Conclusions. More than half of patients reported that they knew enough about their disease; their awareness depended on their age, sex, place of residence, and education. Physicians were indicated to be the main source of health information in most cases. Nurses more often than patients noted that information provided by them was adequate. The patients who were treated in the surgical departments received less information about healthy lifestyle.