The Comparison between Motivational Factors and Barriers to Patient Education Based on the Viewpoints of Nurses and Nurse Managers

Patient education is difficult in hospital. And there are many barriers to its implementation. For effective patient education,, identifying the barriers and motivations of patient education from involved people’s point of view in the process of patient education is necessary. In this analytical cross-sectional study 131 nurses and Nurse Managers employed at bojnoud University of Medical Sciences hospitals in 2014, were selected by census sampling method and studied. Data was collected by Nurses motivational factors associated with Patient Education questionnaires and Questionnaire to identify barriers to patient education In three dimensions related to patient, management and nurses. Data were analyzed by SPSS V20 software using descriptive statistical tests and independent t-test. From the nurses’ point of view most of the barriers for patient education were: nurses’ lack of knowledge toward patient education (71.9%) illiteracy or low literacy of the patients (70.8%), not identifying the requirements of patients’ education and lack of nursing manpower (66.7%), lack of educational textbooks (62.5%), lack if regular plans for patient education (60.4%), patients unfavorable general condition and lack if law about patient education (59.4%) and from managers’ point of view: lack of nurses’ knowledge toward patient education (97.1%) lack of patient cooperation (91.4%) and, lack of manpower and sex difference between educator and patient (77.1%) the inability of patient for taking care of him/herself (71.4%) lack of time for nurses (68.8%) illiteracy or low literacy of patients (68.6%), rejection of education from patients (60%), low budget for patient education (54.3%). From nurses’ point of view most of the motivational factors for patient education were: job conscious (46.9%), awareness and appreciation from authorities (43.8%) salary (42.7%). And from managers’ point of view: advancement and job improvement (42.9%) interest in the job, and supervision from authorities (37.1%). And also there has been a meaningful relation between some of the demographic variables. Nurses and managers had a common point of view toward the main barriers regarding the patients and nurses. But they had a different point of view toward barriers regarding the administration. According to costs the effectiveness of patient education is essential and the authorities can contribute in removing the barriers of patient education by applying measures like attributing enough budget for education that lead to holding training courses, employing enough manpower, effective planning, appropriate supervised encouragement.