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BJA Advance Access originally published online on April 2, 2004
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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2004, Vol. 92, No. 6 854-858
© 2004 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Clinical Investigations

Drug patient information leaflets in anaesthesia: effect on anxiety and patient satisfaction

M. Oldman*,1, D. Moore2 and S. Collins1

1 Department of Anaesthesia, Anaesthetic Department, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5DA, UK. 2 Department of Anaesthesia, Wellington Hospital, Capital and Coast District Health Board, Riddiford Street, Private Bag 7902, Wellington, New Zealand

*Corresponding author. E-mail: oldman{at}globalnet.co.uk

Background. Patient information leaflets are produced for all new drugs, including anaesthetic drugs that are licensed solely for physician administration. The effect of this information on patients’ satisfaction and anxiety has not been investigated previously.

Methods. Eighty-five patients were allocated randomly to receive a standard information leaflet about anaesthesia (Group 1) or the standard leaflet plus the manufacturers’ patient information leaflets for propofol and remifentanil (Group 2). Anxiety was assessed using the state trait anxiety index (STAI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for anxiety before and after this information had been read. Patients’ attitudes to this information were assessed by a short questionnaire.

Results. There was no significant difference in STAI or VAS scores for anxiety between the two groups before or after the information leaflets. Significantly more patients who received drug patient information leaflets felt that they had received too much information (0% Group 1 vs 18% Group 2, P=0.003). More than 64% of patients in both groups said that they would not wish to receive detailed anaesthetic drug information. There was a correlation between the STAI and the VAS scores for anxiety (R=0.8).

Conclusions. A minority of patients (up to 36%) wish to receive detailed anaesthetic drug information before anaesthesia. Manufacturers’ drug patient information leaflets do not alter preoperative anxiety and may be safely issued to patients requesting such information.

Br J Anaesth 2004; 92: 854–8


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