[How are the patients informed at a hospital emergency service?].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clarity and efficacy of the information given to patients by doctors, in the hospital emergency ward (HEW) and the influence of accompanying people on such information.


METHODS
Descriptive transverse study.


METHODS
HEW of the Hospital General of Segovia.


METHODS
171 patients seen at the HEW between July and September of 1993.


RESULTS
An oral questionnaire consisting on 15 items including: age, sex and sociocultural profile of the patient, presence of a companion, knowledge the doctor's identity, oral information recived during the stay and oral and written recommendations at the time of discharge, was used. The report of discharge delivered to the patient was used for contrast. Only 20 patients (11.7%) knew the name of the doctor who attended them; a statistically significant difference (p > 0.01) was found in favour of those who were accompanied. In spite of the fact that 97.6% of the patients said that they had received a clear information and that 88.9% of them did referred to have no doubts, only 71.9% of them were able to repeat correctly the treatment recommended at the time of discharge. A 50% of the patients were able to read and understand the written report, while 19% of them did not understand it and another 20% considered it illegible.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to guarantee the patient's compliance with recommendations given at the time of discharge of a HEW, it is necessary to improve oral and written information given to them, relying on the presence of a companion and checking their assimilation.
Domínguez Navarro
D
D
Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Segovia, Grupo Comunicación y Salud de Segovia.
Cervera Barba
E
E
Disdier Rico
M T
MT
Hernández Machado
M
M
Martín García
M C
MC
Rodríguez Sanz
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006753:Hospital Records; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010361:Patients; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Cómo se informa a los pacientes en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario?