title: Randomised trial of a computer-generated tailored written education package for patients following stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ideal method of providing stroke patients with information has not been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of providing stroke patients with computer-generated tailored written information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial with blinded assessor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute stroke unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  138 stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomised to receive either computer-generated tailored written information about stroke or generic written information while in hospital. Three months following discharge, a blinded assessor evaluated the outcomes of knowledge about stroke, self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy to Perform Self-Management Behaviours Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale), perceived health status (COOP charts), satisfaction with content and presentation of the written information received (separate 10-point visual analogue scale for content and presentation), and desire for additional information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were obtained for 133 (96.4%) patients. Patients in the intervention group were significantly more satisfied with the content (difference on a 10-point visual analogue scale was 1, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 1.7, P = 0.003) and presentation (difference on a 10-point visual analogue scale was 1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 1.9, P < 0.001). Significantly, fewer patients in the intervention group desired additional information about stroke at follow-up than patients in the control group (4.5% versus 32.8%; P < 0.001). Anxiety change scores improved slightly more in favour of the control group (1.4 difference on the HAD subscale, 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 2.8, P = 0.03). No significant differences between the groups were observed for any of the other outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing stroke patients with computer-generated tailored written information improved satisfaction with the information that was received and was more effective in meeting patients' informational needs than non-tailored information, but had no effect on knowledge about stroke, self-efficacy, depression, or perceived health status.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. t.hoffmann@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Kryss
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worrall
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome