Patients' learning priorities for reoperative coronary artery bypass surgery

This study describes the perceived learning priorities of patients undergoing reoperative coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). The study also examines whether reoperative CABS patients' learning priorities are different from those of patients undergoing initial CABS. Data were collected by means of a 40-item questionnaire from 16 reoperative and 20 initial CABS patients during the postintensive care hospital period and again 3 months after discharge. Reoperative patients most frequently rated most items as "very important" to learn about. Few of the 40 items were rated differently by reoperative and initial CABS patients. Inhospital, reoperative patients more frequently rated "knowing who all the doctors and nurses are" as very important. After discharge, reoperative patients more frequently rated "waiting before surgery" and "sharing a room with others" as very important while less frequently rating "coping with stress" as very important. The results suggest that reoperative CABS patients rate learning as very important and that reoperative CABS patients have learning priorities similar to those of initial CABS patients.