title: How much do patients know? A multiple choice question paper for patients in the waiting room.
abstract: A questionnaire about knowledge of personal preventive medicine, treatment, and the appropriate use of health services was put to a population of patients attending their doctors' surgeries. The population was probably biased toward the younger and those willing to fill in such a questionnaire. The results showed a social class gradient in knowledge and a distressing degree of ignorance on some topics. Suggestions are made for using the method in a positive educational way in practices, and for further studies with improved methods.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010824:Physicians' Offices; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires