Analysis of Perioperative Patient Education Needs as the Basis for Developing A Mobile Perioperative Companion Application
Keywords:
mHealth, mobile health, nurse anesthetist, patient education, perioperative education, qualitative researchAbstract
Effective perioperative patient education is essential to improve patient understanding, reduce anxiety, enhance adherence to perioperative instructions, and support patient safety. However, perioperative education remains challenged by limited consultation time, heavy workload of healthcare providers, and variations in patients' health literacy. Consequently, understanding patients' educational needs is necessary to support the development of digital educational media tailored to users' needs. This study aimed to explore perioperative patient education needs from the perspective of nurse anesthetists as a basis for developing a patient-centered mobile perioperative companion application. A qualitative study with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) approach was conducted involving nine nurse anesthetists from hospitals in Bali, Indonesia. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through online FGD and analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis following Braun and Clarke. The sample of this study was 9 anesthesiologists from various hospitals in Bali Province who participated in this study. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on the criteria of having at least one year of work experience in anesthesiology services, having provided perioperative education to patients, and being willing to participate in the study. Four themes were identified: (1) patient readiness is established through comprehensive and continuous perioperative education; (2) the effectiveness of perioperative education is influenced by patient characteristics, healthcare system factors, and the consequences of non-adherence; (3) adaptive and collaborative educational approaches enhance patient engagement; and (4) a mobile application is perceived as an adaptive, sustainable, and patient-centered digital educational medium. Participants emphasized that the application should provide phase-specific educational content, audiovisual learning materials, reminders for important perioperative instructions, and features that accommodate patients' varying educational backgrounds and health literacy. Perioperative patient education should be continuous, adaptive, and patient-centered. The findings provide evidence to support the development of a mobile perioperative companion application as a complementary educational tool to improve patients' understanding, engagement, and readiness throughout the perioperative period.
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