Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks

Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
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The format of information given to patients
The law requires that both written and oral information be given to patients. A written
information sheet has to be provided, with a copy retained in the patient’s file.
The complementarity of written and oral information and the importance of combining them
has been discussed in the literature. Written information’s advantages in assisting patients
to remember verbal information are highlighted by several authors (16). It also enables
patients to reflect and allows traceability of the information provided (15). Written forms of
information are more likely to be homogeneous and validated by specialist institutions.
Verbal information presents several additional advantages over written. Oral information
is described as “the only way to personalize information, to adapt it to the individual’s
questions and to create a trustful environment” (16). A similar suggestion, particularly in
relation to the importance of dialogue between patient and doctor, is posited by Hergon
et al. (14). Wargon et al. (17) explain that written information accompanied by verbal
information can facilitate patients’ understanding.
Although written information has become compulsory by law, the written form is not
systematically used by prescribers, who often express a preference for communicating
verbally to allow them to adapt better to the needs of each patient.
Patient information: the link between legislation, medical practice and
recipients’ safety
Methodology
This section is based on the results of face-to-face interviews with experts. 19 General
and specific questions were asked, depending on the expert. Permission to quote the
experts was obtained and the transcripts of the interviews were sent to each expert for
validation. A list of the main standardized questions asked is provided in Box 4.2.
Box 4 .2 . List of questions asked during expert interviews
» Is there a consensus on the practice of blood transfusion?
» How is pre-transfusion information given to patients?
» Have guidelines been created to help health care professionals inform patients?
» What training on patient information is given to health care professionals?
» What is the role of the haemovigilance correspondent in this field?
» How is post-transfusion follow up organized?
» Do you believe that giving better information to patients could help in reducing adverse events?
» Do you think it could be useful to inform a wider public about blood transfusion, rather than only
informing patients before they are transfused?
» Is the post-transfusion information sheet systematically given to patients after transfusion?
» Do you think it could be beneficial for patients to become further involved in the blood transfusion
process, and how do you think they could?
» Do you think that further involvement of patients would only have a positive impact, or could it also have a
negative impact on care?
» What kind of information system is used in your health care centre to report adverse events? Does it work
well?
» How are relations with the EFS organized, particularly in relation to dealing with adverse events?
19 The interviews were conducted in French and transcriptions translated into English.