J Nurs Acad Soc.  1971 Dec;2(1):3-34.

Study of Patient Teaching in The Clincial Area

• Kang KS

Abstract

Nursing of today has as one of its objectives the solving of problems related to human needs arising from the demands of a rapidly changing society. This nursing objective, I bilieve, can be attained by the appropriate application of scientific principles in the giving of comprehensive nursing care. Compre- hensive nursing care may be defined as nursing care which meets all of the patient's needs. the needs of patients atr said to fall into five broad categoried: physical needs, psychological needs, environmental needs, socio-economic needs, and teaching needs. Most people who become ill have adjustment problems related to their new situation. Because patient teaching is on of the most important functions of professional nursing, the success of this teaching may be used as a gauge for evaluating comprehensive nursing care. This represents a challenge for the future. A questionnaire consisting of 67 items was distributed to 200 professional nurses working in direct patient care at Yonsei University Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. 160(80.0%) nurses of the total sample returned completed questionnaires 81(50.6%) nurses were graduates of 3 year diploma courses 79(49.4%) nurses were graduateds of 4 year collegiate nursing schools in Korea 141(88.1%) nurses had nuder 5 yeard of clinical experience in a medical center, while 19(11.9%) nurses had more than 5years of clinical experience. Three hypotheses were tested: 1. "Nurses had high levels of concept and knowledge toward patient teaching"-This was demonstrated by the use of a statistical method, the mean average. 2. "Nurses graduating from collegiage programs and diploma school programe of nursing show differences in concepts and knowledge towardpatient teaching". This was demonstrated by a statistical method, the in concepts and knowledge the results showed little difference between the two groups. 3. "Nurses having different amounts of clinical experience showed differences in concepts and knowledge toward patient teaching"-This was demonstrated by the use of the T-test. Conclusions of this study are as follow: Before attempting the explanation, of the results, the questionnaire will explained, The questionnaire contained 67 questions divided into 9 secitions. These sections were: concept, content, time, prior preparation, method, purpose, condition, evaluation, and recommendations for patient teaching. 1. The nurse's concept of patient teaching: Most of the nurses had high levels of concepts and knowledge toward patient teaching. Though nursing service was task-centered at the turn of the century, the emphasis today is put on patient-centered nursing. But we find some of the nurses(39.4%) still are task-centered. After patient teaching, only a few of the nurses(14.4%) checked this as "normal teaching." It seems therefore that patient teaching is often done unconsciously. Accordingly it would be desirable to have correct concepts and knowledge of teaching taught in schools of nursing. 2. Contents of patient teaching: Most nurses(97.5%) had good information about content of patient teaching. They teach their patients during admission abu their diseases, tests, treatments, and before discharge give nurses instruction about simple nursing care. personal hygiene, special diets, rest and sleep, elimination etc. 3. Time of patient teaching: Teaching can be accomplished even if there is no time set aside specifically for it. -a large part of the nurse's teaching can be done while she is giving nursing care. If she believes she has to wait for time free from other activities, she may miss many teaching opportunities. But generally proper time for patient teaching is in the midmorning or midafternoen since one and a half or two hours required. Nurses meet their patients in all stages sof health: often the patient is in a condition in which learning is imposible-pain, mental confusion, debilitation, loss of sensory perception, fear and anxiety-any of these conditions may preclude the posibility of successful teaching. 4. Prior preparation for patient teaching: The teaching aids, nurses use are charts(53.1%), periodicals(23.8%), and books(7.0%) Some of the respindents(28.1%) reported that they had had good preparation for the teaching which they were doing, others(27.5%) reported adequate preparation, and others(43.8%) reported that their preparation for teaching was inadequate. If nurses have advance preparation for normal teaching and are aware of their objectives in teaching patients, they can do effective teaching. 5. Method of patient teaching: The methods of individual patient teaching, the nurses in this study used, were conversation(55.6%) and individual discussion(19.2%). And the methods of group patient teaching they used were demonst- ration(42.3%) and lecture(26.2%) They should also be prepared to use pamplet and simple audio-visual aids for their teaching. 6. Purposes of patient teaching: The purposes of patient teaching is to help the patient recover completely, but the majority of the respondents(40.6%) don't know this. So it is necessary for them to understand correctly the purpose of patient teaching and nursing care. 7. Condition of patient teaching: The majority of respondents(75.0%) reported there were some troubles in teaching uncooperative patients. It would seem that the nurse's teaching would be improved if, in her preparation, she was given a better understanding of the patient and communication skills. The majority of repondents in the total group, felt teaching is their responsibility and they should teach their patient's family as well as the patient. The place for teaching is most often at the patient's bedside(95.6%) but the conference room(3.1%) is also used. It is important that privacy be provided in learning situations with involve personal matters. 8. Evaluation of patient teaching: The majority of repondents(76.3%) felt teaching is a highly syetematic and organized function requiring spccial preparation in a college or university, they have the idea that teaching is a continuous and ever-present activity of all people throughout their lives. The suggestion mentioned the most frequently for improving preparation was a course in patient teaching included in the basic nursing program. 9. Recommendations: 1) It is recommended, that in clinical nursing, patient teaching be emphasized. 2) It is recommended, that inservice education the concepts and purposes of patient teaching be renewed for all nurses. In addition to this new knowledge, methods and materials which can be applied to patient teaching should be given also. 3) It is recommended, in group patient teaching, we try to embark on team teaching.

MeSH Terms

Academic Medical Centers
Audiovisual Aids
Diet
Education
Humans
Hygiene
Korea
Learning
Nursing
Nursing Care
Nursing Services
Patient Care
Patient-Centered Care
Privacy
Surveys and Questionnaires
Schools, Nursing
Seoul
Surveys and Questionnaires