Patient Demographics and Learning Needs: Examination of Relationship

Abstract

Background: Limited research has examined differences in patients’ learning needs in relation to demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, level of education, and culture. Yet such knowledge is essential to develop postoperative educational interventions that are tailored to patients’ needs. Study purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between learning needs and the demographic characteristics of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Method: A descriptive design was used.The sample of convenience included 38 patients who met eligibility criteria. Major results: Statistically significant relationships were found between the patients’ age, gender, and cultural background, and learning needs ( p < .05) and not between the learning needs and level of education. Application: These preliminary highlight the importance of attending to learning needs of patients with different backgrounds in order to improve self-management following CABG surgery.