This study was performed to investigate the level of importance and performance of patient education perceived by patients and nurses. The subjects consisted of 108 patients and 106 nurses in one university-affiliated hospital in Daegu, from February 1 to February 5, 2002. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires which were constructed to include the level of importance and performance of patient education. The data were analyzed by an SPSS program. 1) The level of importance of patient education perceived by patients and nurses was high, but the level of performance of patient education was relatively low. The level of importance and performance of patient education perceived by patients and nurses ranked as the highest in the area of diagnosis and treatment. 2) The level of importance and performance of patient education perceived by patients was not different according to general characteristics. The level of importance and performance of patient education perceived by nurses was different according to age and the working unit and the level of performance of patient education was different according to clinical career and job position. These results suggest that the level of importance of patient education perceived by patients and nurses was different to the level of performance of patient education perceived by them. Therefore nurses should actively provide patients with the educational program based on the importance of patient education perceived by patients.