THE INFORMATION NEEDS AT TIME OF HOSPITAL DISCHARGE OF MALE AND FEMALE-PATIENTS WHO HAVE UNDERGONE CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING - A PILOT-STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To compare the information needs 24 to 48 hours before hosp ital discharge of male and female patients who have undergone first-ti me coronary artery bypass surgery. DE SIGN: Cross-sectional, descripti ve-comparative. SETTING: Teaching hospital in a city in central Canada . SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 20 men and 20 women who had undergon e elective coronary artery bypass surgery for the first time. INSTRUME NTS: Patient Learning Needs Scale and open-ended questions. RESULTS: N o differences were found in information needs between men and women. T he highest areas of information needs included: treatment and complica tions, activities, medications, and enhancing quality of life. CONCLUS ION: Men and women have similar information needs after coronary arter y bypass surgery. They both want information concerning treatment and complications, activities of living, enhancing their quality of life, and medications.