LEARNING NEEDS OF HOSPITALIZED AND RECENTLY DISCHARGED PATIENTS

Patients' perceptions about the importance of health information they receive during hospitalization and their satisfaction with this inform ation was investigated in a study of hospitalized and recently dischar ged patients. Results show that information about medications, treatme nt and complications, and enhancing quality of life are most valued by hospitalized patients followed by information concerning activities o f living, community follow-up, skin care, and feelings about condition . For recently discharged patients, the importance of most health info rmation increases, rather than diminishes. These recently discharged p atients show high levels of satisfaction with the information they rec eived during hospitalization. These results suggest that hospital-base d nurses prioritize patient learning needs and diversify teaching stra tegies to address patient knowledge deficits both in the hospital and immediately post-discharge.