Nurses' Perception of Patient Education in Critical Care Units: A Content Analysis

Introduction: Patient education is the most fundamental role of nurses and an important factor in raising awareness and changing health behaviors toward various diseases, particularly coronary artery diseases. This study aims to define nurses' perception of patient education in the CCU ward of Valiasr Hospital, Birjand, Iran. Method: This was a qualitative study performed in 2011. In the present study, 11 nurses of CCU wards were recruited by purposeful sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Three themes have emerged including culture, knowledge of the patient's background, and education process suited to patients’ culture and society. Each theme has some subcategories. Conclusion: According to the results, it is necessary to design the patient education process based on culture and conditions of the patients’ community in order for that process to be effective. Keywords: Patient education, Coronary heart disease, Content analysis, Qualitative stud