The aim of the review is to present the results of an analysis and evaluation of the state of research on patient education based on the Polish nursing literature. A review and analysis of 139 research works was carried out, which during the years of 1990-2001 appeared in Polish nursing journals as well as in post-conference and convention proceedings and reports. The collected material was evaluated according to the following criteria: defining the research problem, defining and operationalising the variables studied, the research tool applied, the research method used, the size and selection of the research sample, the results achieved. The analysis of research works carried out in the area of patient education became the basis of the objective knowledge of the current state of research and its relation to the nursing practice in this area.