| Summary: | M.Cur. === Refined equipment, heightened technology and improved surgical techniques in the field of ophthalmology have all resulted in a marked shift towards ambulatory, outpatient surgical treatment and day surgery and therefore shortened hospital stay for patients. This leaves patients and their next-of-kin with the responsibility for own care after treatment. To be able to accomplish this, they need adequate and relevant health education. Nurses are faced with the responsibility of imparting this information in order to enable patients to make decisions or choices that will address their health behaviour and thus influence their lifestyle. It is therefore necessary to use strategies of health education that will bring about this change of behaviour. One such strategy is values clarification. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the health education experience of patients undergoing ophthalmic day surgery before and after the health educator attends a workshop in values clarification. The study was conducted in two phases, with a workshop in values clarification as intervention between the phases. During Phase 1, phenomenological interviews were held with patients before the health educator attended the workshop in values clarification. The health educator then attended a workshop in values clarification. Thereafter, phenomenological interviews were again held with patients. Data analysis was done and findings were compared and discussed together with a literature control. The trustworthiness of the study was determined according to Lincoln and Guba's model. Conclusions and recommendations were made and guidelines, based on findings, were set for preoperative health education of patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.
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