Paper: Concept Maps in Patient and Nursing Education (19th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice)

Tuesday, 8 July 2008: 1:55 PM

Kirsi Johansson, PhD, RN , Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Heli Virtanen, RN, MNSc , Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Helena Leino-Kilpi, PhD, RN , Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Sanna Salanterä, PhD, RN , Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Learning Objective 1: describe the use of concept maps in nursing field.

Learning Objective 2: indicate the usefulness of concept maps in patient and nursing education.

This abstract focuses to describe and evaluate the concept maps from perspective of learning and evaluating the learning. The purpose of this paper is to provide both theoretical and empirical evidence about a concept map method in patient and nursing education.

Patients need to know and understand about their care in order to empower. Previous studies show that new strategies for patient education are needed and nurses' educational skills should be updated. The concept map method can be used in facilitating metacognitive thinking and understanding about knowledge.

This study project was carried out by pre-post test design for orthopaedic patients (n=123) in two groups, the descriptive pilot study of orthopaedic patients (n=19), one-group pre-test post-test design for nursing students (n= 100) as well as systematic review. All patient data have been collected, analysed and are now ready to be reported together. Also the nursing student data have been collected and will be analysed and reported during spring 2008. Systematic review is in progress but will be also ready to be reported by the time of congress.

The existing results from the perspective of patients are encouraging. Both the pre-post test designed study and the pilot study showed that concept map is a relevant and useful method of showing patients current knowledge. Patients in concept map group had better knowledge and certainty of their care related issues than patients whose education not consisted of the concept map method. Also they reported their learning process being more positive.

The preliminary results suggest that a concept map method may be useful in patient education. Further research, however, is still required to establish whether concept maps are effective in constructing knowledge in order to reach deep learning.

See more of: Outcomes Measurements to Improve Healthcare
See more of: Research Sessions – Oral Paper & Posters