Effect of Patient Information Leaflet on Working Pattern and Patient Satisfaction Level in a Busy Indian Day Care Operative Theatre Complex

INTRODUCTION:

Patient Information is one of the key determinants of patient satisfaction. Adequate information about the disease condition, treatment plan, waiting times and 'what to do next' affects patients' overall satisfaction level. Good quality information not only reduces patient anxiety and stress, but also reduces unreasonable expectations and misconceptions. Patient satisfaction has always remained an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality in health care.

In the recent years there is a gradual upward trend in day care surgeries all across the globe; an estimated 83% of the surgeries in the United States being performed on an ambulatory basis. In India, about 20 percent of all surgical procedures are performed on outpatients. It is estimated that by 2020, 75 percent of all surgical operations in India will be carried out in ambulatory surgery centers. The increasing trend of ambulatory surgeries has emerged from advances in anesthesia and surgical techniques. Patient information and effective communication is critical in these surgeries especially the ones that need General Anesthesia.

Provision of information is one of the mainstays of effective day surgery management. This needs to cover not only what to do before and after surgery, but also what will happen on the day of surgery. There are several ways of providing information like written information, using a video, over telephone or by patient interviews before and after surgery. Verbal information alone is inadequate and must be reinforced with well-presented printed material.

Tata Memorial Hospital is a premier tertiary level cancer hospital in India. Around 140-150 patients undergo minor surgical procedures (diagnostic and therapeutic) in the Minor OT complex every day. About 30-40% of surgeries belong to the Head & Neck region alone.About 40-50% of these surgeries are done under general anesthesia. At present the communication with patients in the busy outpatient department is mainly verbal. Due to time constrains, lack of a responsible attendant with the patient, important information with respect to the day care procedure is often not effectively delivered. This leads to patients not following instruction adequately with respect to starvation, medications to be taken on the day of the procedure and also not carrying all essential documents. This leads to delays, rescheduling of cases and rarely postponement of procedures.