Factors Influencing Practice of Patient Education among Nurses at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Atinuke Janet  Akinmeye; Modupe Olusola  Oyetunde

doi:10.4236/ojn.2015.55053

Modupe Olusola Oyetunde, Atinuke Janet Akinmeye

Abstract: Patient education is the process of influencing patient behaviour and producing the changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to maintain or improve health. Health education may be general preventive, health promotion or diseases specific education. With an education system in place, patients will be satisfied with care, patients will be healthier, and will seek medical services less frequently. There is little or no documentation on the practice of patient education at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The aim of this descriptive study was to explore factors influencing the practice of patient education among nurses at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting 200 nurses at the University College Hospital Ibadan. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical package for social sciences version 15 (SPSS 15) was used in analysing data. The study revealed that the knowledge and practice of patient education among the nurses in University College Hospital was high and the knowledge was found to be significantly associated with its practice (X2 = 7.89, p = 0.017). The working experience of nurses does not determine whether they practice patient education or not. Almost all the respondents (70% - 90%) in this study affirmed that the nurses’ experiences, cultural barriers, work place culture, lack of time, heavy workload, insufficient staffing, and the complexity of patients’ condition were important factors that influenced the practice of patient education. In conclusion, nurses at the University College Hospital have good knowledge and positive attitude towards patient education but could not practice effectively. A more critical approach in addressing heavy workload, insufficient staffing, among others is needed to improve patient education. Further studies should be carried out on developing nurses’ roles as patient educators.

Keywords: Patient Education, Patient Education Process, Outcome of Care

Cite this paper: Oyetunde, M. and Akinmeye, A. (2015) Factors Influencing Practice of Patient Education among Nurses at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 500-507. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.55053.

References

[1] Avsar, G. and Kasikci, M. (2011) Evaluation of Patient Education Provided by Clinical Nurses in Turkey. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17, 67-71.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2010.01908.x

[2] Balcou-Debussche, M. and Debussche, X. (2008) Type 2 Diabetes Patient Education in Reunion Island: Perceptions and Needs of Professionals in Advance of the Initiation of Primary Care Management Network. Diabetes and Metabolism, 34, 375-381.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diabet.2008.03.002

[3] Bird, A. and Wallis, M. (2002) Nursing Knowledge and Assessment Skills in the Management of Patients Receiving Analgesia via Epidural Infusion. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 40, 522-531.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02409.x

[4] Carpenter, J.A. and Bell, S.K. (2002) What Do Nurses Know about Teaching Patients? Journal of Nursing Development, 18, 157-161.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00124645-200205000-00009

[5] Deccache, A. and Aujoulat, I. (2001) A European Perspective: Common Developments, Differences and Challenges in Patient Education. Patient Education and Counseling, 44, 7-14.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(01)00096-9

[6] Fitzpatrick, A. and Hyde, A. (2005) What Characterizes the “Usual” Preoperative Education in Clinical Contexts? Nursing and Health Sciences, 7, 251-258.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2005.00244.x

[7] Friedman, A.J., Cosby, R., Boyko, S., Hatton-Bauer, J. and Turnbull, G. (2011) Effective Teaching Strategies and Methods of Delivery for Patient Education: A Systematic Review and Practice Guideline Recommendations. Journal of Cancer Education, 26, 12-21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0183-x

[8] Gregor, F.M. (2001) Nurses’ Informal Teaching Practices: Their Nature and Impact on the Production of Patient Care. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 38, 461-470.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7489(00)00081-X

[9] Hubley, J. (2006) Patient Education in the Developing World—A Discipline Comes of Age. Patient Education and Counseling, 61, 161-164.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2005.02.011

[10] Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (2001) Hospital Accreditation Standards, Oakbrook Terrace.

[11] Jones, R.A. (2010) Patient Education in Rural Community Hospitals: Registered Nurses’ Attitudes and Degrees of Comfort. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 41, 41-48.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20091222-07

[12] Kääriäinen, M. and Kyngäs, H. (2010) The Quality of Education Evaluated by the Health Personnel. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science, 24, 548-556.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2009.00747.x

[13] Kendall, S., Deacon-Crouch, M. and Raymond, K. (2007) Nurses’ Attitudes toward Their Role in Patient Discharge Medication Education and Toward Collaboration with Hospital Pharmacists: A Staff Development Issue. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 23, 173-179.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NND.0000281416.04731.3e

[14] Latter, S., Rycroft-Malone, J., Yerrell, P. and Shaw, D. (2000) Evaluating Educational Preparation for a Health Education Role in Practice: The Case of Medical Education. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 1282-1290.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01599.x

[15] Lipponen, K., Kyngäs, H. and Kääriäinen, M. (2006) Surgical Nurses Readiness for Patient Counselling. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, 10, 221-227.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joon.2006.10.013

[16] Marcum, J., Ridenour, M., Shaff, G., Hammons, M. and Taylor, M. (2002) A Study of Professional Nurses’ Perceptions of Patient Education. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 33, 112-118.

[17] Moret, L., Rochedreux, A., Chevalier, S., Lombrail, P. and Gasquet, I. (2008) Medical Information Delivered to Patients: Discrepancies Concerning Roles as Perceived by Physicians and Nurses Set Against Patient Satisfaction. Patient Education and Counseling, 70, 94-101.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.09.011

[18] Park, M.Y. (2005) Nurses’ Perception of Performance and Responsibility of Patient Education. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 35, 1514-1521.

[19] Park, M.Y. and McMillan, M.A. (2000) Patient Education in the Face of Work Constraints. Paper Presented at the 1st Asia-Pacific Nursing Congress, Seoul.

[20] Sally, H., Karen, D. and Fran, L. (2005) Patient Education in Health and Illness. 5th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.

[21] Sigurdardottir, A.K. (1999) Nurse Specialists’ Perceptions of Their Role and Function in Relation to Starting an Adult Diabetic on Insulin. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 512-518.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2702.1999.00279.x

[22] Thoma, G.B. (1999) A Comparison of the Role of Patient Educator to Other Nursing Roles: Identifying Influences Affecting the Attainment of the Patient Educator Role among Staff Nurses. Microform University of Memphis, Memphis.

[23] Zakrisson, A.B. and Hägglund, D. (2010) The Asthma/COPD Nurses’ Experience of Educating Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Primary Health Care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science, 24, 147-155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2009.00698.x

[24] Turner, D., Wellard, S. and Bethune, E. (1999) Registered Nurses’ Perceptions of Teaching: Constraints to the Teaching Moment. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 5, 14-20.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-172x.1999.00147.x

[25] Halse, K.M., Fonn, M. and Christiansen, B. (2014) Health Education and the Pedagogical Role of the Nurse: Nursing Students Learning in the Clinical Setting. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 4, 30-38.

[26] Abdi, A., Izadi, A., Vafaeei, K. and Lorestani, E. (2014) Assessment of Patient Education Barriers in Viewpoint of Nurses and General Physicians. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences, 8, 2252-2256.
www.irjabs.com