Informational needs of surgical patients following discharge

A decreased length of hospital stay for surgical patients dramatically redu ces the time available for nurses to teach patients how to manage postdisch arge self-care. Nurses need guidelines to prioritize teaching content. This study explored the perceptions of information needed by 45 patients who we re recently discharged following short-term surgical procedures. Patients i dentified information related to activity, wound care, complications, and p ain management as highly important. Patient reports of information given an d satisfaction with information were also examined. These findings can cont ribute to the development of teaching programs for patients who are dischar ged following short-term surgical procedures. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Sa unders Company.