Anaesthesia information--what patients want to know.
We developed and introduced into clinical practice a leaflet to improve the delivery of information to patients before obtaining their consent to anaesthesia. The amount of information needs to be what a "reasonable" patient thinks appropriate; therefore we tested patients' responses to three levels of information: "full" disclosure, "standard" disclosure (as contained in our leaflet) and "minimal" disclosure. Forty-five patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. None of the information sheets caused a significant change in state anxiety score and only the "full" disclosure significantly increased knowledge about anaesthesia (P = 0.016). All leaflets were easy to understand. When only one leaflet was provided 64-73% of patients thought the content was "just right", whereas when all three leaflets were viewed together, 63% of patients thought the "minimal" leaflet withheld too much information.
Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
A L
AL
Garden
A F
AF
Merry
R L
RL
Holland
K J
KJ
Petrie
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003142:Communication; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D014342:Truth Disclosure