Patient Education For Surgery — Focus On Health
This study aimed to explore the experiences and expectations of surgical patients about educational content. In a prospective longitudinal and descriptive two-center study, patients undergoing elective surgery were asked about topics they would like to learn more about, their sources of information, and how useful they found it. Patient education was given to patients at the preoperative and postoperative stages.
This study aimed to assess patients’ expectations of the content of the patient education provided prior to a surgical procedure. The study asked patients to respond to a series of questions regarding the educational content before surgery. The first set asked whether the participants would have liked to receive more information about 23 topics. The second set asked about 17 cases, and the third set asked about six issues. In addition, the patients were asked whether they would like to receive more information about the cost of the surgery.
The results showed that current patient education practices were not optimal. However, the findings indicated that multimodal patient education could be effective for patients who underwent surgery recovery. Furthermore, such multimodal patient education could help to develop better surgical perioperative care and nursing education.
The researchers found that patients who strongly agreed with two or three patient education items experienced more significant improvement in their outcomes, were more satisfied with their care, and had fewer postoperative problems. They also found that patients who strongly agreed with all three patient education items were more satisfied with their surgical experience.
Ultimately, these findings show that patients’ expectations are related to the outcomes of the surgery. Specifically, the study examined whether patients’ expectations were met or not. Patients with the highest expectations benefited more from the surgery, but those with low expectations found that their expectations were not met.
The content of the patient education process for surgery can be divided into two domains. The first domain includes modules pertaining to hospitalization and recovery, while the second domain focuses on posthospital planning. This way, the patient education program can be tailored to the patient’s unique needs. The patient education program should also address potential barriers to learning.
Preoperative education should be tailored to the patient’s specific needs. For example, if the patient is having colorectal surgery, the patient education program should address their needs regarding the medical procedure, recovery, and disease. Addressing these needs strengthens the patient’s engagement, which is essential for their recovery.
During the research, the patients’ opinions were recorded and analyzed. They were asked to suggest ways to improve the patient education process. For example, they indicated that the hospital sends information on potential procedures, changes the clinic’s letter to notify patients of upcoming appointment delays, and arranges for carer support during bad news. These recommendations were reported to the healthcare team, which decided which ones to integrate into their practice.
The Surgical Clinic believes that patients should know what to expect during surgery. This way, they will be less stressed and feel more confident. Patient education is the foundation of patient-centered care.
Several interventions have been studied to improve patient education for surgery. These include write-back, teach-back, and interactive methods. They have been shown to increase patient understanding and safety and open up a dialogue about the benefits and risks of a procedure. Some studies have even shown that these techniques can improve patient consent.
A patient education program requires a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. It needs to address medications, surgical procedures, post-discharge management, and when to seek postoperative medical services. This education can be challenging to conduct if the patient is distressed and unable to recall details. The team should include the patient from the beginning, using visual aids and questioning to assess understanding.
A recent study found that good patient education can reduce the fear of surgery and help patients follow postoperative instructions. It also improved patient satisfaction and reduced postoperative problems. However, most physicians struggle to educate patients effectively. Fortunately, many techniques can help them. Here are a few suggestions for improving patient education before surgery:
A teach-back method involves asking patients to repeat what they heard in their own words, allowing them to clarify any information. The patient may also be able to synthesize the information to help other members of their family understand it. Using this technique can also help patients with special needs understand the information.
