The Learning Needs of Hematology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Treatment and Affecting Factors: Descriptive Research

Abstract

Objective: The organizing patient education in accordance with the information needs of the patients can contribute positively to the expected patient care outcomes and increase the patient satisfaction and nursing care quality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the learning needs of hematology patients receiving chemotherapy treatment and affecting factors. 
 Methods: The research is a descriptive cross-sectional study. It was conducted at a university hospital between March and June 2021. The study sample consisted of 130 patients who applied to the hematology outpatient clinic to receive chemotherapy treatment. Data was collected using the Patient Information Form and the Patient Learning Needs Scale.
 Results: The patients of 33.1% was received training on self-care management during the disease process. More than half of the sample (51.2%) stated that they received training from physicians and nurses, and they received training mostly on the subjects related to their diseases (73.8%). The sample of 37.2% found the training they received completely sufficient. The mean total score of the patients from the Patient Learning Needs Scale was 205.08±41.01. The highest and the lowest sub-dimension mean scores obtained from the scale, respectively; Treatment and Complications (38.66±7.23) and Feelings related to Condition (19.56±5.12) were sub-dimensions. In the study, ther was a statistically significant difference between the mean total score of the scale and gender, time of diagnosis, and the person living with (p=0.043; p=0.017; p=0.040, respectively).
 Conclusion: The level of learning needs of hematology patients receiving chemotherapy treatment were high. The most important subjects that patients should be informed about were treatment and complications, and quality of life. It is recommended to plan patient education in accordance with the individual learning needs of the patients. Determining which subjects patients want to be informed about and giving priority to these subjects by nurses can make education more effective and productive.