Knowledge expectations of surgical orthopaedic patients: a European survey.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the pageAgeing population entails a growing international problem of osteoarthritis. Best practices for education of these patients are lacking. This study focused on empowering education in Northern (Finland, Iceland, Lithuania and Sweden) and Southern Europe (Cyprus, Greece and Spain). The aim was to analyse associations between expected knowledge and background factors. The data were collected from European arthroplasty patients with the Knowledge Expectations of hospital patients- scale, (KE(hp) - scale), including bio-physiological, functional, experiential, ethical, social and financial dimensions. Patients had essential bio-physiological and functional knowledge expectations. Women expected more than men, employed less than retired, unemployed or who worked at home. Generally, patients in Northern countries expected more than in Southern countries. However, highest expectations were found in Sweden and Greece, lowest in Spain and Cyprus. There are differences in knowledge expectations based on patients' backgrounds. Development of common standards in European patient education needs further research.Finland: University of Turku Finland: Academy of Finland Finland: Finnish Association of Nursing Research Finland: Finnish Foundation of Nursing Education Cyprus: The Cyprus University of Technology Spain: Colegio Oficial de Enfermeria de Barcelona Sweden: The Swedish Rheumatism Association Sweden: County Council of Ostergotland Iceland: The Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund Iceland: Akureyri Hospital Science Fund Iceland: University of Akureyri Science Fund Iceland: KEA fund, Akureyri Iceland: Icelandic Nurses' Association Science Fun