A consideration of memory in relation to information giving.
Giving information to patients who are anxious about their illness or diagnosis may be one of the most difficult and skilled tasks a nurse has to undertake. For the nurse the aim is to relay information in a concise, clear fashion to ensure the patient retains it. For the anxious patient the difficulty is in retaining important information. A failure to recall information, for example inaccurate recall of test results, may have detrimentaleffects upon health care (Croyle et al, 1997) or lead to non-compliance with medical regimens (Ley, 1988; Bain, 1977).
School of Health Science, University of Wales, Swansea.
Sherrill
S
Snelgrove
D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology