Kirsi Johansson

Patient education and health-related quality of life: surgical hospital patients as a case in point.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the connections between patient education and health-related quality of life as an outcome variable. Data were collected among surgical hospital patients (n = 237) in Finland. On the basis of the results, there seems to be a positive relationship between received knowledge and health-related quality of life, and as such, the study produced knowledge about one quality indicator in nursing care. More research is needed to explore this connection in greater details.

Written orthopedic patient education materials from the point of view of empowerment by education.

Written patient education materials are one way of supporting patient empowerment. The aim of this study was to evaluate written orthopedic patient education materials (n = 25) drawn from a university hospitals electronic databank. In the absence of suitable tools for evaluation, an analytic framework was developed by a panel of nursing scientists and clinical experts. The materials were evaluated from the point of view of empowerment by their external appearance, content and instructiveness. In terms of their external appearance the materials were well prepared, but much was left to be desired with regard to contents and instructiveness. Development needs to focus on making better use of methods of visual representation, on increasing the coverage of content areas that so far have received less attention, like social, experiential, ethical and financial empowerment, and on providing a more focused perspective on the patient.

Total joint arthroplasty patients' perception of received knowledge of care.

BACKGROUND: The education of orthopaedic patients is an essential component of nursing, because it has been shown to have a positive impact on outcomes of care and treatment. PURPOSE: To describe total joint arthroplasty patients’ perceptions of received knowledge on discharge. DESIGN/METHOD: Patients (n = 123, mean age 68 years) undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty self-administered a structured instrument, including 6 different dimensions of knowledge. RESULTS: Patients perceived that they received most knowledge on the biophysiological dimension and least on the financial dimension. Patients’ discharge destination and positive evaluation of hospitalization were related to their perceptions of the knowledge received. DISCUSSION: Individually tailored education is needed to meet patients’ educational needs. Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients have enough knowledge even if they do not ask for this knowledge.

Dental patient education: a survey from the perspective of dental hygienists

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the current patient education practices of dental hygienists by exploring their views concerning their skills and knowledge related to patient education and by determining the implementation of patient education in their work, with regard to both method and content. METHODS The target group consisted of 416 dental hygienists (n = 222, 53%) The research strategy used was a survey. The material was gathered using questionnaire. RESULTS According to the dental hygienists, their skills and knowledge about patient education were good. However, the implementation of education was not in line with these assessments. The content of the education given focused mostly on the functional dimension. Little use was made of various educational methods, and the dental hygienists felt that they were not in good enough command of the methods. The patients expectations and learning were not assessed systematically. The education provided and the assessment of the need for education often focused on the professional him/herself and the standpoint of the patient empowerment was disregarded. CONCLUSIONS These results lay the foundation for additional research aimed at developing the patient education given by these professionals and making it support the empowerment of each patient.