Level of Knowledge about Self-Care at the time of Discharge of Patients surgically intervened at the J. R. VIDAL Hospital in 2017

Abstract

SUMMARY: All patients undergoing surgery require a comprehensive post-surgical treatment, meeting their needs to promote proper care and healing of wounds. The care is a determining factor of its evolution and the appearance of complications. Therefore, we sought to describe the level of knowledge of patients surgically treated at the time of hospital discharge. The study was quantitative, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional and observational. The sample was non-probabilistic, for convenience. The variables knowledge level in healing of surgical wounds, signs and symptoms of alarm, medication administration and feeding were studied. The data collection instrument was a survey of multiple responses to be filled out by each patient. Forty patients who underwent surgery at the time of hospital discharge were interviewed. The results showed that 60% had sufficient knowledge about surgical wound healing, while in 27% this was regular and 13% insufficient. Regarding signs of alarm and administration of indicated medications, 98% showed sufficient knowledge, only 8% showed regular knowledge. As for food at home, 98% of patients had sufficient knowledge and only in 2% this was regular. While in general sufficient knowledge was observed in patients before discharge, it is necessary to deepen their training in terms of the most appropriate solutions for wound healing as well as healing techniques and the taking of analgesics after food.