[Written information for patients: From papers to documents].
BACKGROUND
There is a high variability in the level of information intended for patients, with different content, format and presentation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the perceived safety of the patients treated at the Country Hospital of Melilla (HCML) and to assess the quality of the documents using criteria adapted to the «International Patient Decision Aid Standards» (IPDAS).


METHODS
Descriptive study of the documents given to patients by the HCML. They included questionnaires on perceived safety, classification of the documents, and the level of adherence to the IPDAS criteria.


RESULTS
The Information given to patients during their stay in the HCML, their participation in decision-making, and the information about medication, did not exceed the average on the acceptance scale. Only 40 documents were studied (of the 131 collected), on being published in-house, and were classified, following the definitions of the RAE, into instructions (20), recommendations (14) and guidelines (6). Of these, only the 27.5% showed hospital logo. In the content analysis according to the IPDAS criteria, there was an overall adherence rate of 24.1% in instructions, 24.8% in recommendations, and 61.5% in guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
The perception of patient safety expressed in the questionnaire, and its assessment according IPDAS criteria, shows there may be a significant improvement within the organization. Furthermore, the quality of patient documentation provided can help decision making.
Unidad de Admisión y Documentación Clínica, Hospital Comarcal de Melilla, Melilla, España. Electronic address: mccortes@ingesa.msssi.es.
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Cortés-Criado
D003657:Decision Making; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014956:Writing
Ayuda a la decisión; Clinical documentation; Decission aids; Documentación clínica; Patient perception; Patient safety; Percepción de pacientes; Seguridad del paciente