Barriers to Patient Education Based on the Viewpoints of Nurses and Nurse Managers in Hospitals of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, 2008

One of the main needs of the patients is receiving clear and adequate information. Nurses are often the first educator s to them. The present study has been designed to explore the barriers to patient education from the viewpoints of nurses and nurse managers in hospitals of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2008. In this descriptive cross - sectional study، 253 nurses and nurse managers were assasssed. Data was collected by two -part resaercher- made questionnaire include demographic characteristics of participants and barriers to patient education (27 phrases). Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistical tests (such as frequency distribution، mean، SD) and independent t-test. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between total mean score of nurse managers and staff nurses about barriers of patient education including environmental factors، patient related factors، and nurse related factors (3. 98±0. 54 vs 3. 82±0. 56، 3. 50±0. 75 vs 3. 40±0. 69 and 3. 35±0. 98 vs 3. 10±0. 89). Viewpoint of participants were different about the «lack of planning of patient education as a routine duty (p = 0. 006) lack of educational materials» (p=0. 013) and «lack of patient knowledge about patient education as one of his/her rights» (p=0. 037) Regarding nurses and nurse managers beliefs about their educational role and in order to eliminate barriers to patient education measures such as adequate nursing staff، preparation of pamphlets and booklets for patient education، adequate budgeting for education and proper encourage ment means for nurses are essential.