Information delivery: the provision of written information for patients following coronary angiography and post-discharge management.
To improve management of risk factors in patients diagnosed with significant coronary artery disease after day case angiography, we gave patients a discharge information sheet emphasising the importance of prognostic therapy, risk factors and follow-up. The sheet was evaluated in 40 patients. A nurse talked through the information sheet with the patients after their angiogram and helped to complete relevant sections. One group of patients was given a copy of the sheet to take home, while the second group remained a 'verbal information only' group. Providing written information resulted in improvements in follow-up regarding blood pressure and drug therapy checks, but there was no significant difference between the groups in the follow-up management of cholesterol or in patient awareness of their cholesterol level. Patients were not likely to remember the sheet, even though a nurse had talked them through it, unless it was backed up with a written copy which could be taken away. It became apparent that the vast majority of patients remembered a pictorial representation of the extent of their disease (routinely provided) in contrast to the relatively disappointing numbers (43%) who remembered the information sheet. To evaluate further the importance of content and style in effective information delivery, we are evaluating the combination of written information with a visual representation of the heart.
Lloyd
G
G
Department of Cardiology, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Cooper
A
A
Jackson
G
G
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period