Related Experiment Videos
Do patient information booklets increase perioperative anxiety?
1Greenwich District Hospital, Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich, UK.
Insights
Most patients find pre-anesthesia information leaflets helpful, but a significant portion experience increased preoperative anxiety. Careful consideration of information format is crucial to avoid unintended distress.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Patient Education
- Healthcare Communication
Background:
- Patient engagement with medical information is evolving.
- Pre-admission clinics are standard for day-case surgery protocols.
- Information leaflets are commonly provided to patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit patient attitudes towards a pre-admission information leaflet.
- To assess the helpfulness and impact of the leaflet on preoperative anxiety.
- To understand patient information-seeking behaviors regarding anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 103 patients was conducted using anonymous questionnaires.
- The audit focused on patients attending the pre-admission clinic.
- Data was collected over a 2-month period before surgery.
Main Results:
- 96% of patients read the provided leaflet.
- 99% found the leaflet helpful to some degree.
- 35% reported increased worry, and only 3% discussed it with an anesthesiologist.
Conclusions:
- Patients value information about anesthesia.
- Leaflet format may inadvertently increase preoperative anxiety.
- Optimizing information delivery is essential for patient well-being.
Abstract:
Patient attitudes to medical information are changing. We audited patient attitudes to an information leaflet provided at the preadmission clinic as part of standard day-case protocol. The booklet is a simplified version of the booklet Anaesthesia and Anaesthetists--Information for Patients and Relatives published in London, UK, by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland. One hundred and three patients were surveyed before surgery over a 2-month period using an anonymous questionnaire. Of the 96% of patients who read the booklet provided, 99% found it helpful to some degree. Thirty-five per cent of patients found it worried them. Thirty-two per cent discussed the information with others but only 3% discussed the information provided with the anaesthetist. Although patients like to receive information about the process of anaesthesia, we must be careful that by providing it in an inappropriate form, e.g. as a leaflet, we do not increase their preoperative anxiety.