ObjectivesTo explore the status quo of the readiness for hospital discharge and the quality of discharge guidance in patients after total hip/knee arthroplasty, and analyze their correlations.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate patients who underwent total hip/knee arthroplasty in a tertiary hospital in Chengdu between January and November 2017. The survey included basic patient information questionnaire, Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale, and the Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale.ResultsThe average age of 352 patients undergoing total hip/knee arthroplasty was (59.56±12.69) years. The total score of readiness for hospital discharge was 177.08±19.41, the average score was 7.82±0.88, and the average quality of discharge teaching was 145.87±14.87. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients’ access and the required discharge teaching (t=28.742, P<0.001). The score of readiness for hospital discharge was positively correlated with the score of the quality of discharge guidance (r=0.645, P<0.001), the obtained content dimension (r=0.542, P<0.001), and the teaching skill dimension (r=0.522, P<0.001).ConclusionsThe readiness for hospital discharge in patients after total hip/knee arthroplasty is in a medium level, and the quality of discharge teaching is higher overall and it is positively correlated with the readiness for hospital discharge. Medical staff should pay attention to the discharge guidance for patients. In the course of health education, not only the content and quantity of guidance should be emphasized, but also the guiding skills should be paid attention to, so as to improve the quality of discharge teaching, thereby improving the patient’s discharge readiness and promoting the patient’s later rehabilitation.