Knowledge expectations of orthopaedic patients

To describe and compare knowledge expectations and received knowledge in elective orthopaedic surgery patients.

Population aging, increasing incidence of osteoarthritis, the growing number of surgical procedures, and reduced clinical stays underline the need for a new approach to patient education.

This study has a descriptive, comparative design.

Data were collected from 263 patients who had total hip and knee replacement elective surgery during 3 years (2009-2012) in 5 public hospitals in Spain. The Knowledge Expectation of Hospital Patients and the Received Knowledge of Hospital Patients Scales were used to collect data. The questionnaires were filled before hospital admission, at discharge and at follow-up 6 to 7 months later.

Surgical patients received less knowledge than they expected. Patients' expectations were only met in the functional dimension. At follow-up, patients reported that they perceived having acquired more knowledge during their hospital stay than they reported at the time of discharge. Knowledge expectations and knowledge received were related to employment status, gender, and previous contact experience with the hospital.

Knowledge expectations were not met, and results showed the need to improve education for orthopaedic patients throughout the perioperative process, not only during hospitalization.