Patient education needs assessment: constructing a generic guide.

A National Veterans Administration Multidisciplinary Task Force was developed to facilitate the comprehensive assessment of individual patient education needs. A review of literature was done for existing assessment instruments. Although the literature clearly stated the importance of patient assessment, no comprehensive tool could be found. This article describes the process by which the Task Force developed and tested a comprehensive guide to assist staff members in individual patient education assessment. Four target conditions were identified and used throughout the development process to assure that it was applicable to a variety of patient populations. The Task Force identified possible barriers to action for each of the conditions, and then developed questions to assess each barrier. Questions were refined through role plays and extensive review nationally. The guide was then pilot tested in 3 Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers. Changes were made based upon the results. The guide has been distributed within the VA for 2 primary purposes: As a basis for staff training regarding actual assessment, and as a guide for staff who assess patient education needs. An evaluation is planned for Spring 1987.