Korean J Med Educ.  2018 Dec;30(4):327-337. 10.3946/kjme.2018.107.

Experience of nursing students about the barriers to patient education: a qualitative study in Iran

• Abbasi M
• Rabiei L
• Masoudi R

• KMID: 2435199
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2018.107

Abstract

PURPOSE
Patient education is a dynamic and continuous process that should be implemented during the entire time of hospital stay and even afterward. Studies have shown the typically poor quality of patient education in Iran and its failure to convey the required knowledge and skills to patients. The purpose of this study was to survey the experience of nursing students in regard to the challenges of patient education in hospitals.
METHODS
This qualitative study was conducted using the conventional qualitative content analysis approach on a sample of 21 undergraduate nursing students (4th semester and beyond), which was drawn from the Qom Nursing and Midwifery School through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted over a period of 45 to 75 minutes, and were analyzed using the conventional qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
Results were derived from the experiences of 21 nursing students (nine males, 12 females) about the research subject. The primary themes identified in the study were the student-related, patient-related, instructor-related, education environment-related, and curriculum-related barriers to patient educations.
CONCLUSION
Participants believed that patient education in Iranian hospitals is faced with many challenges. Nursing instructors and curriculum planners should ensure more emphasis on patient education at the initial semesters of nursing education curriculum and make sure that it is included in the evaluation of students. Hospital officials should provide a dedicated education environment with suitable facilities, tools, and atmosphere for patient education. Also, special education programs need to be developed for less educated patients.

Keyword

Patient education as topic; Nursing students; Qualitative research; Iran

MeSH Terms

Atmosphere
Curriculum
Education
Education, Nursing
Education, Special
Humans
Iran*
Length of Stay
Male
Midwifery
Nursing*
Patient Education as Topic*
Qualitative Research
Research Subjects
Students, Nursing*