[Education of patients who have had arterial surgery. Procedure and results]

Teaching preventive measures to patients which have been operated on for arterial diseases with the goal of preventing recurrent lesions or complications related to the surgical procedure itself is an ethical obligation because of its medical and economic consequences. The aim is to convince the patients of the need to change their lifestyle, to consult their physician rapidly in certain precise circumstances, to present regularly for yearly check-ups and sometimes to avoid certain movements or carefully comply to anticoagulant controls. We have had 25 years experience. Oral explanations were complemented early with a booklet given to the patients before discharge. Since 1991, discussion groups are organized each week around a 20-minute film. An audit has shown that about 80% the patients were well informed. Since 1994, the group sessions were held after distributing a questionnaire. Read before the film, it helps the patients become aware of the problems. After the film, each patient raises personal questions in a guided discussion. Since this method has been used, the percentage of well informed patients has risen to 95%. In a very active surgical unit, transmission of information should not be handled to chance. It should be well organized and periodically evaluated. To be effective it should focus on precise goals, be understandable by all, follow a clear presentation of the problems, involve the entire health care team and rely on well prepared support material. Group discussions around a film help to improve patient comprehension and participation. The booklet and the questionnaire will guide the patients when back home.