Information-giving practice: an audit of patients attending a GUM clinic.
OBJECTIVE
Patients are known to have difficulty assimilating information about diagnosis and treatment given verbally during consultations with healthcare professionals. Written information in the form of leaflets is often used to reinforce the message. The aim of this study was to audit the written and verbal information given to patients.


METHODS
Questionnaires were given to patients attending the clinic for repeat treatments for genital warts.


RESULTS
Female patients generally seemed more satisfied with the information they received than male patients. Overall, patients were more satisfied with verbal information than written information.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations for changes to information-giving practice are described and plans for future audits to help improve the quality and content of information are outlined.
Handy
P
P
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Newcastle General Hospital.
D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires