Surgical patients' preferences for pre-operative information.

Two studies of patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery are presented to examine the extent to which patients welcome special preparatory communication. Their preferences for the type of information, its timing, and the format of presentation are also examined. Data is presented which shows that only 10% of patients do not welcome special preparation, and that when patients are exposed to sample materials all patients welcomed some form of written preparation. The most preferred type of information is procedural information when patients are asked to chose between procedural, sensory and temporal, coping, or generally reassuring information. However, when patients were interviewed after exposure to sample materials, the booklet containing a composite of these types of information plus general information about admission procedures, was most preferred. Most patients prefer to receive preparatory information from their surgeon. As most patients welcome preparation prior to hospitalisation the provision of preparatory booklets to back up information from the doctor, is suggested as generally the most practical solution to providing cost-effective preparation for routine adult surgery.