An investigation into information provided for patients on home parenteral nutrition.

A group of 34 patients who received home parenteral nutrition (HPN) were assessed by questionnaire to determine their knowledge of basic nutritional concepts, parenteral nutrition and the procedures used to monitor HPN. The results indicated that the HPN patients had an adequate knowledge of basic nutritional concepts and that this knowledge was not significantly different from that of 76 randomly selected control subjects. However, the HPN patients had significantly less understanding of parenteral nutrition and the procedures used to monitor HPN. Based on information obtained, a booklet was written to explain HPN to the same group of patients. Eighty-eight per cent of patients found the booklet either interesting or very interesting and 91% of patients reported that the booklet was read by other family members as well as themselves. Patients who had been on HPN for short periods of time learnt more from the booklet than other patients. Many patients would have appreciated more information about HPN when they first began treatment.