What information do anaesthetists provide for patients?
BACKGROUND
Information on anaesthesia interventions, plans and risks is needed by patients and carers alike and is a key component of the Good Practice In Consent initiative. Existing information materials may under-represent what patients are able to contribute.


METHODS
UK anaesthetic departments were surveyed on provision of written patient information. The response rate was 66% (177/267).


RESULTS
Fifty-five per cent of respondents reported providing patient information materials for planned surgical admission, mainly on general anaesthesia, regional analgesia and pain. A minority provided information for children and for critical care patients. Few (32%) had sought feedback from patients, and few used existing sources of guidance. Most (85%) wanted improvements, with a four-to-one majority favouring central resources developed by The Royal College of Anaesthetists.


CONCLUSIONS
Working in parallel does not give our hospitals excellent, effective patient information materials. Demand exists for The Royal College of Anaesthetists to lead in this area. Working in partnership with patients and taking into account existing written guidance is important but has often been overlooked.
Thoms
G M M
GM
Evaluation and Audit Unit, University Department of Anaesthesia, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK.
McHugh
G A
GA
Lack
J A
JA
D000758:Anesthesia; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D006113:United Kingdom