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Writing to patients: a randomised controlled trial

Máire O'Reilly, Mary R Cahill and Ivan J Perry
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.6-2-178
Clin Med March 2006
Máire O'Reilly
Departments of Epidemiology & Public Health and Applied Social Studies, University College, Cork
Roles: HRB Health Services Research Fellow
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Mary R Cahill
Department of Haematology, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Currently Department of Haematology, Cork University Hospital, Cork
Roles: Consultant Haematologist
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Ivan J Perry
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College, Cork
Roles: Professor of Public Health
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Abstract

It has been suggested that consultants should consider writing directly to patients with a summary of their outpatient consultation. In a controlled trial involving consecutive new referrals to a haematology outpatient clinic, we randomised patients to receive either a personal letter from their consultant summarising their consultation (n = 77) or a brief note thanking them for attending the clinic (n = 73). Patients were assessed for recall of and satisfaction with the consultation by a single independent observer, using standardised methods. At the second visit to outpatients, the patients' median percentage recall of items discussed during the consultation was 67% (IQ range 50–80%) in the intervention group, versus 57% (IQ range 43–76%) in the control group (p = 0.3). Strongly positive views on the personal letter were expressed by patients and referring clinicians. The findings suggest that although personal letters do not substantially improve recall of the clinical encounter, they are feasible, highly valued by patients and acceptable to referring clinicians.

Key Words
  • Personal Letters
  • Randomised Controlled Trial
  • Recall
  • Satisfaction
  • Writing to Patients
  • © 2006 Royal College of Physicians
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Writing to patients: a randomised controlled trial
Máire O'Reilly, Mary R Cahill, Ivan J Perry
Clinical Medicine Mar 2006, 6 (2) 178-182; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-2-178

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Writing to patients: a randomised controlled trial
Máire O'Reilly, Mary R Cahill, Ivan J Perry
Clinical Medicine Mar 2006, 6 (2) 178-182; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-2-178
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