Research claims consultants’ follow-up letter helps patients

PATIENTS who were given a follow-up letter detailing what occurred during their visit to a consultant expressed high levels of satisfaction and enthusiasm, a new study has found.

Researchers in University College Cork (UCC) and Limerick Regional Hospital are recommending that the health system examines how effectively it is communicating with patients.

Under a study carried out in two health board regions (HSE South and HSE Mid-West), 150 patients were given a letter from consultants outlining the main problems discussed, decisions made in the consultation and diagnosis where available. The letters were written in an easy-to-read style with an extra copy for the patient’s GP.

The authors of the study said these “personal letters” were “associated with high levels of patient satisfaction and enthusiasm”.

Four out of five patients said they were pleased to receive the written summary of their consultation, while the same number said they found the letter very useful.

Seven of ten patients said they read the letters several times and six out of ten had shown it to a family member, usually a sibling or a spouse.

Over 60% of those who took part in the survey said they thought the letter should become a routine practice.

The majority of consultants (92%) said the summary letter was a useful method of doctor-patient communications.

Professor Ivan Perry of UCC, who conducted the study, said communication between clinicians and patients will become increasingly important over the next decade.

“People have reasonable expectations of high quality care from the health service. Also, technology is changing and people are communicating in a number of ways they weren’t ten years ago and the health service is not immune from that.”