The information needs at time of hospital discharge of male and female patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To compare the information needs 24 to 48 hours before hospital discharge of male and female patients who have undergone first-time coronary artery bypass surgery. DE SIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive-comparative. SETTING: Teaching hospital in a city in central Canada. SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 20 men and 20 women who had undergone elective coronary artery bypass surgery for the first time. INSTRUMENTS: Patient Learning Needs Scale and open-ended questions. RESULTS: No differences were found in information needs between men and women. The highest areas of information needs included: treatment and complications, activities, medications, and enhancing quality of life. CONCLUSION: Men and women have similar information needs after coronary artery bypass surgery. They both want information concerning treatment and complications, activities of living, enhancing their quality of life, and medications.