title: Value of written health information in the general practice setting.
abstract: The value of a library for patients as a way of providing written health information in the general practice setting has been investigated using a questionnaire. In 15 months, 243 books were borrowed from one library. Each book contained a questionnaire and 163 questionnaires were returned (67%). It was found that 106 respondents (65%) would not have sought the information elsewhere and 159 respondents (98%) found the books they had read to be very useful or of some use. The perceived level of anxiety after reading was raised in nine respondents (6%) but reduced in 71 (44%). Patients read books on 53 separate topics overall, although 73 respondents (45%) read on 10 recurring topics. A patients' library thus enables most patients to gain useful information from their general practice without increasing their anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Lister Hospital, Stevenage.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Collings
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McClymont
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007993:Libraries, Medical; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*