The effects of different verbal instructions on the use of written informational material by preoperative patients

This study questioned whether the type of message delivered with written informational material would have an influence on preoperative patients' use of the material. The study addressed three additional questions: (1) Do preoperative patients read informational material given to them under conditions normally prevailing in a hospital? (2) Are there any demographic characteristics that differentiate users from non-users? (3) What factors do patients perceive as affecting use of the material? Seventy three preoperative patients, 38 men and 35 women with an average age of 51.5 years, were presented with an informational pamphlet along with a short motivational, an explanatory, or a non-motivational/non-explanatory verbal message. After surgery, the patients were interviewed. Forty subjects read all of the pamphlet, and 33 read parts or none of the pamphlet. The type of message did not have any significant effect on the use of the pamphlet. No significant demographic characteristics could be identified to differentiate users from non-users. The non-users most frequently reported that a lack of interest, prior knowledge of their surgery or the pamphlet, and physical condition affected use. The majority of users reported that they could not state any factors affecting their use, although some said they thought that reading the pamphlet might be important. The results of this study suggest that many preoperative patients will not read presented informational material. In addition, perception of a need for information appears to have an influence on whether a patient will read the material.