title: Assessing the quality of written information provision for surgical procedures: a case study in oesophagectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the content and quality of written information provided by surgical centres for patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of the content of National Health Service (NHS) patient information leaflets (PILs) about oesophageal cancer surgery, using a modified framework approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written information leaflets from 41 of 43 cancer centres undertaking surgery for oesophageal cancer in England and Wales (response rate 95.3%).
  
  
  METHODS
  All English language versions of PILs about oesophagectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  32 different PILs were identified, of which 2 were generic tools (Macmillan 'understanding cancer of the gullet' and EIDO 'oesophagectomy'). Although most PILs focused on describing in-hospital adverse events, information varied widely and was often misleading. Just 1 leaflet described survival benefits of surgery and 2 mentioned the possibility of disease recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Written information provided for patients by NHS cancer centres undertaking oesophagectomy is inconsistent and incomplete. It is recommended that surgeons work together with patients to agree on standards of information provision of relevance to all stakeholders' needs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Blencowe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: A G K
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: McNair
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.affiliation: Gastro-Oesophageal Support and Help (GOSH) Group, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blazeby
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000592:standards*; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013222:State Medicine; D014852:Wales
keywords: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; SURGERY