Pasientinformasjon i forkant av undersøkelser ved en medisinsk poliklinikk: Ulike betingelser for at polikliniske og inneliggende pasienter skal være godt nok forberedt

Abstract

Aim To describe and discuss factors contributing to information preparation of hospitalized and outpatient patients coming for investigations at a medical outpatient ward. Background Information and practical preparation before medical investigations aids patients to prepare accurately for the investigation. Hospitalized and outpatient patients have different conditions for information access prior to investigations. Clinical experience raised questions to how well these two groups of patients were prepared for medical investigations. Method Both groups of patients; 127 hospitalized patients and 163 outpatients, were surveyed at the outpatient ward just before the investigation was performed. Descriptive and correlation analyses were carried out. Findings The outpatients report being prepared to a much greater extent for medical investigations than hospitalized patients. In total, 94% of the outpatients report having received information, however, just 54% of the hospitalized patients indicate that they have received any information at all about the investigation. Conclusion The results indicate that information to hospitalized patients ahead of medical investigations must be improved. Increased focus on providing information to patients from health care professionals is required. Brochures providing information about the individual investigation is one helpful way forward.