Viewpoints of employed nurses in hospitals of Birjand city regarding existing barriers in patient education

Teaching is a part of patient's rights, a recognized main duty of nurses, and a criterion for accreditation of organizations which provide health services. Evidence suggests the possibility of failure in this area; this study was conducted to assess barriers in patient education from nurses’ viewpoints serving in Birjand hospitals. This descriptive-sectional study was accomplished on 125 nurses in Birjand hospitals which were selected by census sampling. Data were collected via a designed questionnaire that its validity and reliability were ensured. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software and by using t test, one-way variance analysis in significant level of P<0.05. The majority (78.4%) of nurses were female. The highest average score was observed in “working conditions” out of 4 areas of barriers for patient education. The following areas consisted of: areas of management, skills training and nurses attitudes, respectively. Average scores of nurses’ viewpoints in the field of working conditions according to age (P<0.001), employment status (P=0.01), serving history (P=0.02) and in the area of training skills according to age (P<0.001), service history (P=0.03) and educations (P=0.04) were significant. It is recommended to encourage nurses to train patients by: provision of necessary human resources, facilities, conditions for services and educational programs, in-service training courses and motivating nurses.