Assessment of impact of information booklets on use of healthcare services: randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of patient information booklets on overall use of health services, on particular types of use, and on possible interactions between use, deprivation category of the area in which respondents live, and age. To investigate the possibility of a differential effect on health service use between two information booklets.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial of two patient information booklets (covering the management and treatment of minor illness).


METHODS
20 general practices in Lothian, Scotland.


METHODS
Random sample of patients from the community health index (n=4878) and of those contacting out of hours services (n=4530) in the previous 12 months in each of the study general practices.


METHODS
Booklets were posted to participants in intervention groups (3288 were sent What Should I Do?; 3127 were sent Health Care Manual). Patients randomised to control group (2993) did not receive a booklet.


METHODS
Use of health services audited from patients' general practice notes in 12 months after receipt of booklet.


RESULTS
Receipt of either booklet had no significant effect on health service use compared with a control group. However, nine out of ten matched practices allocated to receive Health Care Manual had reduced consultation rates compared with matched practices allocated to What Should I Do?


CONCLUSIONS
Widespread distribution of information booklets about the management of minor illness is unlikely to reduce demand for health services.
Heaney
D
D
Department of Community Health Sciences-General Practice, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9DX. david.heaney@ed.ac.uk
Wyke
S
S
Wilson
P
P
Elton
R
R
Rutledge
P
P
D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016014:Linear Models; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013664:Teaching Materials