Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The use of personalised patient information leaflets to improve patients’ perceived understanding following open fractures

  • Original Article • EMERGENCY - FRACTURES
  • Published:
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Open tibial fractures can have devastating long-term effects. In our centre, these patients are followed up in a multidisciplinary Orthoplastic Research Clinic. To improve patient comprehension of information, we have developed personalised information leaflets. This study determines patients’ views on these. The leaflet was completed during clinic visits and its role explained. At their next appointment, patients were given anonymised feedback forms, adapted from previously published questionnaires, to complete on their views and use of the leaflet. During the study period, 48 new patients attended clinic; 40 completed questionnaires and were analysed. A majority of patients (39) self-reported improved understanding of their condition, and 11 patients used the information leaflet to improve communication with other healthcare professionals. A majority of patients (34) wished to receive the information leaflet on discharge. The majority of patients in this study felt the leaflet improved their knowledge of their injuries and management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Page PRJ, Trickett RW, Rahman SM, Walters A, Pinder LM, Brooks CJ, Hutchings H, Pallister I (2015) The use of secure anonymised data linkage to determine changes in healthcare utilisation following open tibial fractures. Injury 46:1287–1292

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bosse MJ, MacKenzie EJ, Kellam JF, Burgess AR, Webb LX, Swiontkowski MF, Sandars RW, Jones AL, McAndrew MP, Patterson BM, McCarthy ML (2002) An analysis of outcomes of reconstruction or amputation after leg threatening injuries. N Engl J Med 347:1924–1931

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. McCarthy ML, MacKenzie EJ, Edwin D, Bosse MJ, Castillo RC, Starr A, Kellam JF, Burgess AR, Webb LX, Swiontkowski MF, Sandars RW (2003) Psychological distress associated with severe lower limb injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am 85A:1689–1697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. BAPRAS/BOA working group (2009) Standards for the management of open fractures of the lower limb. Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kessels RPC (2003) Patients’ memory for medical information. J R Soc Med 96:219–222

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Anderson JL, Dodman S, Kopelman M, Fleming A (1979) Patient information recall in a rheumatology clinic. Rheumatol Rehabil 18:245–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Little P, Dorward M, Warner G, Moore M, Stephens K, Senior J, Kendrick T (2004) Randomised controlled trial of effect of leaflets to empower patients in consultations in primary care. BMJ 328:441

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Coulter A, Ellins J (2007) Effectiveness of strategies for informing, educating, and involving patients. BMJ 335:24–27

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Sustersic M, Gauchet A, Foote A, Bosson JL (2017) How best to use and evaluate patient Information Leaflets given during a consultation: a systematic review of literature reviews. Health Expect 20:531–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gal I, Prigat A (2005) Why organizations continue to create patient information leaflets with readability and usability problems: an exploratory study. Health Educ Res 20:485–493

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Seven days in medicine: 29th August–4th September (2018) Doctors told to write to patients in plain English. BMJ 36:k3780

  12. Lowry M (1995) Knowledge that reduces anxiety. Creating information leaflets. Prof Nurse 10:318–320

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Krishna Y, Damato BE (2005) Patient attitudes to receiving copies of outpatient clinic letters from the ocular oncologist to the referring ophthalmologist and GP. Eye 19:1200–1204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. De Bont EGPM, Alink M, Falkenberg FCJ, Dinant GJ, Cals JW (2015) Patient information leaflets to reduce antibiotic use and reconsultation rates in general practice: a systematic review. Br Med J Open 5:e007612

    Google Scholar 

  15. Herber OR, Gies V, Schwappen D, Thurmann P, Wilm S (2014) Patient information leaflets; informing or frightening? a focus group study exploring patients’ emotional reactions and subsequent behaviour towards package leaflets of commonly prescribed medications in family practices. BMC Fam Pract 15:163

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Damian D, Tattersall MH (1991) Letters to patients: improving communication in cancer care. Lancet 338:923–926

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kripalani S, Jackson AJ, Schnipper JL, Coleman EA (2007) Promoting effective transitions of care at hospital discharge: a review of key issues for hospitalists. J Hosp Med 2:314–323

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Van Walraven C, Seth R, Laupacis A (2002) Dissemination of discharge summaries. Not reaching follow-up physicians. Can Fam Physician 48:737–742

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Nielsen-Bohlman L, Pazner AM, Kindig DA (eds) (2004) Health literacy: a presentation to end confusion. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenbaum AJ, Uhl RL, Rankin EA, Mulligan MT (2016) Social and cultural barriers: understanding musculoskeletal health literacy. J Bone Joint Surg Am 98:607–615

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rosenbaum AJ, Pauze D, Pauze D, Robak N, Zade R, Mulligan MT, Uhl RL (2015) Health literacy in patients seeking orthopaedic care: results of the literacy in musculo-skeletal problems (LIMP) project. Iowa Orthop J 35:187–192

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Eltorai AE, Sharma P, Wang J, Daniels AH (2015) Most American academy of orthopaedic surgeons’ online patient education material exceeds average patient reading level. Clin Orthop Relat Res 473:1181–1186

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Tsahakis JM, Issar NM, Kadakia RJ, Archer KR, Barzyk KT, Mir H (2014) Health literacy in an orthopaedic trauma patient population: improving patient comprehension with informational intervention. J Orthop Trauma 28:e75–e79

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Court-Brown C, Brydone A (2007) Social deprivation and adult tibial diaphyseal fractures. Injury 38:750–754

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Parikh NS, Parker RM, Nurss JR, Baker DW, Williams MV (1996) Shame and health literacy: the unspoken connection. Patient Educ Couns 27:33–39

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kronzer VL (2016) Screening for health literacy is not the answer. BMJ 354:i3699

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wolf MS, Williams MV, Parker RM, Parikh NS, Nowlan AW, Baker DW (2007) Patients’ shame and attitudes toward discussing the results of literacy screening. J Health Commun 12:721–732

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Brown DR, Ludwig R, Buck GA, Durham D, Shumard T, Graham SS (2004) Health literacy: universal precautions needed. J Allied Health 33:150–155

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rhys Morris.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Morris, R., Jones, N.C. & Pallister, I. The use of personalised patient information leaflets to improve patients’ perceived understanding following open fractures. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 29, 537–543 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2332-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2332-6

Keywords

Navigation