title: Psychiatric out-patients' reactions to summary letters of their consultations.
abstract: The research reported here was an initial attempt to assess the feasibility and utility of providing new referrals to a psychiatric out-patient clinic with written summaries of their consultations. After routine consultations patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (those sent a summary letter, N = 23) or control group (letter to GP only, N = 29). Subsequent assessment interviews revealed that the summary letters were very well received and patients in the experimental group were significantly more satisfied with their consultations than their control group counterparts. Study findings suggest that such letters offer a practicable option which may provide considerable benefits to patients, their families and referring GPs.
authors.affiliation: Applied Psychology Unit, College of Aeronautics, Cranfield Institute of Technology, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hawks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation