Enhancing surgical nurses' patient education: Development and evaluation of an intervention

Frederica W. O'Connor*, Elizabeth C. Devine, Thomas D. Cook, Virginia A. Wenk, Thomas R. Curtin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7-20
Number of pages14
JournalPatient education and counseling
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 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

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