Chris,
Our Trust have recently started a review of all 'Patient Information'
as part of our clinical governance programme. As a centre we have
reviewed all information that is in use and highlighted areas where
there is a lack of information for service users.
The main issue has been ensuring that leaflets are written with
appropriate language, in a suitable font and on a good contrast
paper, in our case cream was chosen. Readibility scores have also
been applied, e.g. Fleisch score, to crudely measure the reading
age of the material. All this may sound blindingly obvious but I bet
most departments have a real assortment of patient information
kicking about, we did.
The exercise also raised the issue of a lack of information about
some items, e.g. care of equipment. It is my understanding that
manufacturer's instructions must be issued with equipment as we do
already. But as you say it probably isn't much use to end user. We
have decided to issue general information leaflets written more
appropriately for the patient to cover issues such as general care of
equipment, any major safety issue, fitting devices (e.g. orthoses)
etc. Some of our services already have leaflets but we have
identified areas where better info is required. My feeling is that
these leaflets are more likely to be read than manufacturer's info
which is more often than not put in a drawer and forgotten about.
One other problem with manufacturer's info is when items of equipment
are recycled, e.g. wheelchairs, the orginal documentation rarely
comes back and obtaining just literature from manufacturers is always
easy. How do others find this?
Clinical Engineer
Electronic Assistive Technology Service
Tayside Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology Centre
Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust
Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY
|