Perceived information needs and effect of symptoms on activities after surgery for lung cancer

Forty participants who had an open thoracotomy for primary lung cancer were interviewed to determine what information they perceived as being important and what effect selected symptoms had on usual activities prior to and after discharge. Discharge information needs were measured on the 50-item Patient Learning Need Scale (PLNS). The effect of selected symptoms on usual activities was measured on visual analogue scales. The PLNS subscales of Treatment and Complications and Enhancing Quality of Life were identified as being of high importance both prior to and after hospital discharge. Fatigue and pain were the symptoms which had the most effect on the ability to perform usual activities prior to and after hospital discharge. These findings can assist nurses in targeting relevant nursing interventions.