title: [Recommendations for writing patient information statements].
abstract: With Evidence-Based Medicine, shared decision making is attracting considerable interest as a means by which patient preferences can be incorporated into clinical decisions. Patients cannot express informed preferences unless they are given sufficient and appropriate information, including a detailed explanation concerning their condition, the different therapeutic options and the likely outcomes with and without treatment. A patient education leaflet is a potentially powerful tool for communicating information to patients, who will be able to participate in the process of decision making. The present article is a review of available guides for the writing of patient information materials. It also includes criteria for evaluating their quality.
authors.affiliation: Bibliothèque de la Faculté de Médecine, Université de Liège.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delvenne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasleau
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011786:Quality Control; D014956:Writing