You can't ask if you don't know what to ask: a survey of the information needs and resources of hospital outpatients.
OBJECTIVE
to test public demand for health and sickness information and identify sources of information used by the public.


METHODS
using a questionnaire as the basis of a highly structured interview, 274 outpatients or their caregivers from nine clinics in Wellington Hospital, attending for the second or subsequent time, were asked whether they felt they knew enough about their illness and treatment, and where they had obtained their information.


RESULTS
almost half expressed a wish for more illness information and two-fifths wanted to know more about their treatment. Respondents were significantly more satisfied with treatment than illness information. Outpatient comments further indicated dissatisfaction with information. Sixteen sources of information were each used by four or more people, almost 20% of the sample using more than six sources. Health professionals, the hospital doctor in particular, were the most important source of information; informal personal contacts were also widely used.


CONCLUSIONS
the results highlight the difficulties of communication between health professionals and clients. The possibility of cooperation between health and information professionals in providing patients with more information is raised.
Harris
J
J
Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires