Abstract
This research tested whether staff nurses could provide enhanced patient education and whether increases in education improved surgical patient outcomes A protocol for patient education was developed from earlier research. Then a multifocal intervention was implemented to motivate and teach staff nurses and to increase structural support for patient education. Following the intervention, patients reported receiving more preoperative information and psychosocial support, but not skills training. These increases occurred without measurable opportunity costs in other areas of nurses' work and generalized to nontargeted patient groups. Concomitantly, patients experienced shortened postoperative hospital stays and decreased use of anti-emetics/sedatives and hypnotics, demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of the increased education.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 7-20 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Patient education and counseling |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1990 |
Funding
This research was funded in part by National Research Service Award (NRSA) predoctoral fellowship (F 31 NU05766) awarded to F.W. O’Connor, NRSA postdoctoral fellowship (F 32 NUO5644) awarded to E.C. Devine, Northwestern University Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research fellowships awarded to V.A. Wenk and T.R. Curtin; and Cook 8r Cook, Inc.
Keywords
- Implementation of new practices
- Pre-operative education
- Surgery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine