Anne Johnson|Jayne Sandford|Jessica Tyndall
Written and verbal information versus verbal information only for patients being discharged from acute hospital settings to home
Flinders University|Flinders University|Flinders University
becoming commonplace patients discharged earlier acute hospital settings homes required manage various aspects care increased need detailed information given patients andor significant others enable effectively manage care home suggested providing written health information assist self managementto determine effectiveness providing written health information addition verbal information patients andor significant others discharged acute hospital settings homecomputerised searches 1990 june 2002 cochrane consumers communication review group specialised register cochrane central register controlled trials central medline ovid embase cinahl psycinfo eric ovid including ageline ebm reviews dare best evidence premedline psycarticles sociological abstracts austhealth bibliographies articles met inclusion criteriaarticles selected randomised control trials controlled clinical trials included patients discharged acute hospital settings home patient andor significant others received written health information verbal information intervention group verbal information control group intervention written health information verbal information provided dischargetwo reviewers independently screened abstracts determine relevance relevant full paper copies reviewed inclusion criteria findings extracted one reviewer confirmed reviewer two trials met inclusion criteria disparate warrant metaanalysisthe participants two trials parents children discharged childrens hospitals one united states n197 canada n123 provision verbal written health information significantly increased knowledge satisfaction scoresthis review recommends use verbal written health information communicating care issues patients andor significant others discharge hospital home combination verbal written health information enables provision standardised care information patients andor significant others appears improve knowledge satisfaction many objectives could addressed review due lack trials met reviews inclusion criteria therefore scope future research investigate effects providing verbal written health information readmission rates recovery time complication rates costs health care consumers confidence level stress anxiety adherence recommended treatment staff training delivery verbal written information addition factors impact effectiveness information provided considered review worthy separate systematic review impact patient andor significant others involved development written information cultural issues around development provision information due concerns literacy levels population groups systematic reviews also focus modes delivery information besides written format