A survey of information provided by North American Teratogenic Information Services

The appropriate method of communicating important and potentially difficult to understand information to patients varies considerably among Teratogen Information Services. A survey consisting of a sample letter in the form of a medical scenario was sent to all Teratogenic Information Services (TIS) across North America to determine their response to the given situation. A sample letter was mailed to all TIS in North America with a response rate of 87%. Eighty-two percent did not respond to the patients directly with a follow-up letter but did so by writing to their physicians. Ten percent responded to the patients, following up later by sending a short letter summarizing the conversation. Eight percent of the services did not respond. Responses among the centres varied with the level of literacy ranging from grade 10 to the postgraduate level. Of the centres surveyed, there was a notable similarity in the pattern of communication. To communicate more effectively with patients, TIS should consider assessing the reading level of letters sent to them.