A study has been reported that aimed to define how much information
patients want to know.
They took 80 patients about to undergo ther first colonoscopy.
It was a study from "down under" (Australia) so maybe not directly
applicable to British patients ;-)
It concluded:
The researchers used interviews to categorize patients into two
psychological coping styles: "information seekers," who deal with
stressful events by collecting information on the upcoming procedure;
and "information avoiders," who prefer to simply ignore most information
pertaining to the process.
They then measured individual stress levels before, during, and after
colonoscopy.
The investigators found that patients were happiest when the information
they were given matched the demands of their coping style. Bassett
explains that "giving 'information avoiders' too much information, or
denying it to 'information seekers,' can result in increased levels of
anxiety and stress for both kinds of patients."
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 1998;48:119-127.
It would be interesting to know:
* how do you define an information seeker or avoider?
* what measures of stress during colonoscopy did they use ;-)
* what effect the use of midazolam has?
Does this disagree from my long held belief that the patient will retain
what they need or want to know no matter what you tell them?
Should we have patient info packs - Seeking Information?
Head in the sand type?
--
Katie
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