Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study is to determine the level of health education knowledge about prevention and treatment of patients after orthopedic surgery.

Material and methods. The study included 110 people (men = 58.2%, women = 41.8%) who underwent orthopaedic surgery. These were patients from the Postoperative and Orthopaedic Reconstruction Ward, the Neuro-Orthopaedic Ward and the Trauma and Orthopaedic Ward of the Mazovian Rehabilitation Centre, ‘Stocer’ in Konstancin-Jeziorna.

Results. A relationship was found between health education and the prevention and treatment of patients after orthopaedic surgery.

Conclusions. A low level of knowledge and poor behaviour before and after surgery can contribute to a longer recovery period and even a failure to cure the disease 100%. Physical therapists play a key role in educating postoperative patients about physical activity, preventing complications, and accelerating recovery.

Key words

health education, orthopaedics, prevention, surgery