Impact of patient information leaflets on doctor-patient communication in the context of acute conditions: a prospective, controlled, before-after study in two French emergency departments

OBJECTIVE

In the context of acute conditions seen in an emergency department, where communication may be difficult, patient information leaflets (PILs) could improve doctor-patient communication (DPC) and may have an impact on other outcomes of the consultation. Our objective was to assess the impact of PILs on DPC, patient satisfaction and adherence, and on patient and doctor behaviours.

DESIGN

Prospective, controlled, before-after trial between November 2013 and June 2015.

SETTING

Two French emergency departments.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults and adolescents >15 years diagnosed with ankle sprain or an infection (diverticulitis, infectious colitis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia or prostatitis).

INTERVENTION

Physicians in the intervention group gave patients a PIL about their condition along with an oral explanation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

7-10 days later, patients were contacted by phone to answer questionnaires. Results were derived from questions scored using a 4-point Likert scale.

MAIN FINDINGS

Analysis of the 324 patients showed that PILs improved the mean DPC score (range: 13-52), with 46 (42-49) for 168 patients with PILs vs 44 (38-48) for 156 patients without PILs (p<0.01). The adjusted OR for good communication (having a score >35/52) was 2.54 (1.27 to 5.06). The overall satisfaction and adherence scores did not show significant differences. In contrast, satisfaction with healthcare professionals and timing of medication intake were improved with PILs. The overall satisfaction score improved significantly on per-protocol analysis. When using PILs, doctors prescribed fewer drugs and more examinations (radiology, biology, appointment with a specialist); the need for a new medical consultation for the same pathology was reduced from 32.1% to 17.9% (OR 0.46 [0.27 to 0.77]), particularly revisiting the emergency department.

CONCLUSION

In emergency departments, PILs given by doctors improve DPC, increase patients' satisfaction with healthcare professionals, reduce the number of emergency reconsultations for the same pathology and modify the doctor's behaviour.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02246361.

How best to use and evaluate Patient Information Leaflets given during a consultation: a systematic review of literature reviews

BACKGROUND

In the past, several authors have attempted to review randomized clinical trials (RCT) evaluating the impact of Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) used during a consultation and draw some general conclusions. However, this proved difficult because the clinical situations, size and quality of RCTs were too heterogeneous to pool relevant data.

OBJECTIVE

To overcome this 30-year stalemate, we performed a review of reviews and propose general recommendations and suggestions for improving the quality of PILs, how to use them and methods for evaluating them.

METHODOLOGY

We searched five databases for reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses describing PILs. We drew general and condition-linked conclusions concerning the impact of PILs. Checklists summarize criteria for quality PILs, and ways of using and evaluating them.

RESULTS

Of 986 articles found, 24 reviews were pertinent; the five oldest considered the impact of PILs irrespective of the condition the patient consulted for; the 19 more recent ones mostly addressed precise clinical situations.

DISCUSSION

Whatever the clinical situation, PILs improve patients' knowledge and satisfaction. For acute conditions, in the short-term PILs also improve adherence to treatment. For chronic diseases, invasive procedures or screening situations, their impact on adherence varies depending on the context, how the PILs are given and the invasiveness of the intervention.

CONCLUSION

PILs are considered to be very useful, especially for acute conditions where the patient is the first to suffer from lack of information. We propose checklists for writing, designing, using and evaluating PILs in RCTs to enable comparisons between different studies.