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Effects of writing down the request for help: a randomized controlled trial.
Birgit S Brinkman1, Kornelis J J van Hateren, Nanne Kleefstra
1Diabetes Centre , Isala, Zwolle , the Netherlands.
The European Journal of General Practice
|November 14, 2013
Summary
Using a request card to document patient concerns before a doctor visit did not improve patient satisfaction. This study found no significant difference in satisfaction levels between patients who used the card and those who did not.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Patient-Doctor Communication
- Healthcare Improvement
Background:
- Interventions to enhance patient satisfaction by addressing patient requests for help have yielded inconsistent findings.
- Improving patient satisfaction is a key goal in primary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if writing down requests for help on a card before a medical consultation enhances patient satisfaction.
- Investigating the impact of a structured communication tool on the patient-physician interaction.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Dutch general practices.
- Patients were randomized to either use a request card or not; patients were blinded to the intervention.
- Patient satisfaction was measured using the Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction was observed between the request card group and the control group.
- Analysis of secondary outcomes, including various CSQ subscales and VAS scores, also revealed no significant differences.
- Consultation time and follow-up consultation rates were not significantly affected by the intervention.
Conclusions:
- The use of a patient request card did not demonstrate a beneficial effect on patient satisfaction with the medical consultation.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative methods for improving patient-physician communication and satisfaction.
- The findings suggest that this specific intervention may not be an effective strategy for enhancing patient satisfaction in primary care settings.
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