title: Understanding and meeting information needs following unintentional injury: comparing the accounts of patients, carers and service providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore information needs of unintentional injury patients and their carers over time, across services, and how such needs are met from the perspectives of patients, carers and service providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative nested study within a multi-centre longitudinal study quantifying psycho-social, physical, occupational outcomes and service use and costs following a range of unintentional injuries. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 45 patients during the first year post injury, 18 of their carers and 40 providers of services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients and carers needed information about the nature and severity of injury, prognosis, self-management and further services. Information needs changed over time with the biggest difficulties being during transfer from primary to secondary care. Barriers to information provision included service providers' time limitations and uncertainty around information provision, and patients' reluctance to ask for information or inability to process it. Suggested improvements included provision of reassurance as well as factual information, information about further services, earlier follow-up, increased appointment times and greater involvement of families where appropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The information needs of patients and carers post injury change with time and there are a number of ways to remove gaps and barriers in current provision to meet such needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing information on injury management, prognosis and available services and reassurance at each stage of the recovery process in secondary care and when transferring to primary care would be helpful for patients and carers. A follow-up contact soon after discharge and the opportunity to ask questions could be beneficial. Better information about the patient's needs and ways they can help could help carers fulfil their caring role.
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, Nottingham University, University Park, Nottingham, UK. Electronic address: Blerina.kellezi@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Blerina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kellezi
authors.affiliation: University of the West of England, Research and Innovation, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Education Centre, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Earthy
authors.affiliation: Loughborough Design School, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sleney
authors.affiliation: Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regel
authors.affiliation: Patient Representative, Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) East Midlands, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, Nottingham University, University Park, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kendrick
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Carer; Information needs; Information provision; Patient; Service provider