title: Randomised trial of the effects of structuring clinic correspondence.
abstract: We performed a randomised controlled crossover trial of clinic letters. Structured letters were compared with conventional letters containing problem lists. There were 32 participants; 25 preferred the structured letter. Median rating and items identified were higher for the structured letter. Structured clinical correspondence with paragraph headings is strongly preferred and increases comprehension.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University, UK. mea02@keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hands
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors