What did the doctor say?

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Patient Information Delivery
• Healthcare Improvement

Background:

• Patients frequently forget or misinterpret clinical information provided by healthcare professionals.
• Written communication, such as doctor's letters, is recognized for enhancing patient satisfaction.
• National Health Service (NHS) initiatives recommend providing patients with copies of their medical correspondence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient satisfaction with receiving a copy of their discharge letter after day-case gynaecological surgery.
• To assess the helpfulness, informativeness, and emotional impact (reassuring, confusing, alarming) of these letters.
• To determine patient preference for future communication methods.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was distributed to 100 consecutive patients undergoing day-case gynaecological surgery.
• Patients were asked about their experience with the provided discharge letter and future communication preferences.
• A response rate of 78% was achieved, with 78 patients providing feedback.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (67 out of 78 respondents) found the discharge letter helpful and preferred this method for future communication.
• Most patients (62) reported the letter as reassuring.
• Only a small number of patients found the letter confusing (2) or alarming (1).

Conclusions:

• Providing patients with copies of their discharge letters is a well-received practice that enhances understanding and reassurance.
• This communication strategy is effective, minimally burdensome for clinicians, and cost-efficient.
• The findings support the wider implementation of patient-centered written communication in healthcare settings.