Cardiac surgery discharge questionnaires: meeting information needs of patients and families

Tailoring discharge teaching information to the unique learning needs of cardiac surgery patients and their caregivers may improve information acquisition and retention and positively influence the transition home for these individuals. Two questionnaires were developed, one for adult cardiac surgery patients, and one for their caregivers, to explore their self-identified information needs regarding discharge teaching information. The questionnaires were adapted from the Patient Learning Needs Scale of Bubela et al. (1990). The content of the questionnaires was based on informal discussions with patients and their caregivers and nurses of the cardiac surgery department of a university teaching hospital. In addition, previous research exploring discharge teaching content post cardiac surgery and perceived discharge information needs of this population was reviewed. Preliminary testing of the tools indicated content validity. The questionnaires may enhance the efficiency and quality of discharge teaching, as they enable nurses to address the unique information needs of patients and caregivers. This, in turn, may assist patients and caregivers to cope with the transition home. Formal piloting and evaluation of the tools with all stakeholder groups is indicated, in order to determine the effectiveness of the questionnaires and to evaluate and validate their content and format.