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Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge expectations and perceptions of received knowledge.

AIM
This paper is a report of a study to compare orthopaedic ambulatory surgery patients' knowledge expectations before admission and their perceptions of received knowledge 2 weeks after discharge.


BACKGROUND
Advances in technology and population ageing are driving up the number of ambulatory orthopaedic surgical procedures. Shorter hospital stays present a major challenge for patient education.


METHODS
A descriptive comparative cross-sectional study (pre- and post-test) design was adopted. The data were collected from 120 consecutive patients in 2004, using the Hospital Patient's Knowledge Expectations Scale and Hospital Patient's Received Knowledge Scale. All patients participated in a preoperative education session given by a nurse.


RESULTS
Patients expected more knowledge than they actually perceived that they received on all dimensions except the bio-physiological. They perceived that they received least knowledge about experiential, ethical, social and financial dimensions of knowledge. Knowledge expectations correlated with age and professional education. Perceptions of received knowledge correlated with earlier ambulatory surgery, and both expected knowledge and perceptions of received knowledge were related to the level of basic education.


CONCLUSION
Patients' knowledge expectations are greater than the knowledge they perceived that they receive, and they cannot become empowered if they lack important knowledge. Further research is needed to learn about meeting patients' knowledge expectations.