Facilitators and barriers of paediatric patients’ education in Northern Ghana

Abstract Background Patient education is an essential component of nursing care. Effective patient education promotes adherence to treatment, early discharge, and self-management capabilities. The purpose of the study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of paediatric patients' education. Methods The study was a qualitative study using a descriptive exploratory design. Fifteen nurses working in the wards in which paediatric patients are admitted participated in the study. The participants were purposively selected and data was collected through face-to-face individual interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using content analysis procedures. Results The findings of the study suggest that the barriers to paediatric patient education were facility-related factors such as lack of supervision, lacking of teaching aids and workload. Nurse-related barriers identified were inadequate teaching skills, poor nurse-patient relationship, and language barrier. The patient-related barriers were uncooperative parents/caregivers, the dominance of fathers in the home, and the absence of the primary caregiver (mother) in the ward during the period of admission. The facilitators of paediatric patient education suggested by the participants were having an enabling environment, caregiver involvement, language proficiency, and the use of teaching aids. Conclusion Paediatric patient education provides key essential information for the caregiver on the patient’s condition and the care processes. Despite the identified barriers that hinder effective patient education, certain factors have been identified as facilitators to effective paediatric patient education. To ensure that patients derive the maximum benefits health facilities must make conscious efforts to implement strategies to enhance paediatric patient education.