Randomised controlled trial of self management leaflets and booklets for minor illness provided by post.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of providing information by post about managing minor illnesses.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Six general practices.


METHODS
Random sample of 4002 patients from the practice registers.


METHODS
Patients were randomised to receive one of three kinds of leaflet or booklet endorsed by their general practitioner: control (surgery access times), booklet, or summary card.


METHODS
Attendance with the 42 minor illnesses listed in the booklet. Perceived usefulness of leaflets or booklets, confidence in managing illness, and willingness to wait before seeing the doctor.


RESULTS
238 (6%) patients did not receive the intervention as allocated. Of the remaining 3764 patients, 2965 (79%) had notes available for review after one year. Compared with the control group, fewer patients attended commonly with the minor illnesses in the booklet group (>/=2 consultations a year: odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.99) and the summary card group (0.83; 0.72 to 0.96). Among patients who had attended with respiratory tract infections in the past year there was a reduction in those attending in the booklet group (0.81; 0.62 to 1.07) and summary card group (0.67; 0.51 to 0.89) compared with the control group. The incidence of contacts with minor illness fell slightly compared with the previous year in the booklet (incidence ratio 0.97; 0.84 to 1.13) and summary card groups (0.93; 0.80 to 1.07). More patients in the intervention groups felt greater confidence in managing illness (booklet 32%, card 34%, control 12%, P<0.001), but there was no difference in willingness to wait score (all groups mean=32, P=0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients find information about minor illness provided by post useful, and it helps their confidence in managing illness. Information may reduce the number attending commonly with minor illness, but the effect on overall contacts is likely to be modest. These data suggest that posting detailed information booklets about minor illness to the general population would have a limited effect.
Little
P
P
Primary Medical Care Group, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton SO16 5ST. ps13@soton.ac.uk
Somerville
J
J
Williamson
I
I
Warner
G
G
Moore
M
M
Wiles
R
R
George
S
S
Smith
A
A
Peveler
R
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D013664:Teaching Materials