Formale Operationsaufklärung und inhaltliche Operationsaufklärung mit und ohne audiovisuelle Unterstützung : prospektive Erhebung an Katarakt-Patienten im Vergleich der Methoden

Informing the patient prior to a medical operation is considered an important as well as absolutely required part of a preceding medical intervention. Up to now, patient information is commonly executed by a physician, its length and profoundness directly depending on the time available. Impending cost pressures in the public health care system as well as the advancing lack of physicians in many clinical institutions have led to a shortenage in time at hands of physicians with regards to patient care. Oftentimes, patient information is being economized in order to save valuable time. Thus, it has become necessary to break new grounds to provide all patients with a similarly comprehensive and thorough patient information. One option may lie in making additional use of computer technology. It can provide the patient with all relevant information across various channels at a consistent quality and at constant length. Studies have shown that a modern patient information ought to be constructed with an eye on preferably simple language, containing few technical terms and offering relevant information audiovisually in order to enhance understanding. Furthermore, it ought to leave room for any queries on the part of the patient or, at least, offer the possibility to mark them down in order to discuss them later with the physician in regard. These specifications where taken into account when developing the ACTO-AVIO Software (ACTO-AVIO – AudioVisual Interactive Operational Information) with special adjustments made to patients undergoing cataract operations. By means of proband interviews, the effectiveness of this computerised patient information was directly compared to a standardised patient information provided by a physician. Here, it was additionally discriminated between a conventional, i. e. standardised one, and a much more detailed version. The study aims at examing the openness and willingness of patients to new media in patient information such as the computerised patient information method. Also, at examining whether patients take in the information provided in a similar manner as in standardised informing. In order to test this, 90 probands were informed by means of the three different methods and, subsequently, interviewed about the content put across. The results show that amongst a subjective evaluation of the three methods the option which performs best is the detailed patient information by the physician. Naturally, especially older patients feel best looked after by a thorough information session with a physician. Nevertheless, the computerised patient information, too, is being rated higher than the conventional patient information. With regards to the sustainability of the content put across, the results show that patients informed by means of a conventional patient information, tend to forget the relevant information even within minutes afterwards. In direct contrast to that, patients informed by means of an extensive or, alternatively, computerised patient information retain the relevant information better. Both methods show significantly higher results in comparison with standardised patient information. The best performer is the computerised patient information which shows highest ratings but does not vary significantly from extensive patient information. Consequently, the deployment of the ACTO-AVIO software offers a valid method of enhancing patient care especially under consideration of the further development of costs in health care and a further shortenage in patient time physicians will have to face

Formale Operationsaufklärung und inhaltliche Operationsaufklärung mit und ohne audiovisuelle Unterstützung : prospektive Erhebung an Katarakt-Patienten im Vergleich der Methoden

Informing the patient prior to a medical operation is considered an important as well as absolutely required part of a preceding medical intervention. Up to now, patient information is commonly executed by a physician, its length and profoundness directly depending on the time available. Impending cost pressures in the public health care system as well as the advancing lack of physicians in many clinical institutions have led to a shortenage in time at hands of physicians with regards to patient care. Oftentimes, patient information is being economized in order to save valuable time. Thus, it has become necessary to break new grounds to provide all patients with a similarly comprehensive and thorough patient information. One option may lie in making additional use of computer technology. It can provide the patient with all relevant information across various channels at a consistent quality and at constant length. Studies have shown that a modern patient information ought to be constructed with an eye on preferably simple language, containing few technical terms and offering relevant information audiovisually in order to enhance understanding. Furthermore, it ought to leave room for any queries on the part of the patient or, at least, offer the possibility to mark them down in order to discuss them later with the physician in regard. These specifications where taken into account when developing the ACTO-AVIO Software (ACTO-AVIO – AudioVisual Interactive Operational Information) with special adjustments made to patients undergoing cataract operations. By means of proband interviews, the effectiveness of this computerised patient information was directly compared to a standardised patient information provided by a physician. Here, it was additionally discriminated between a conventional, i. e. standardised one, and a much more detailed version. The study aims at examing the openness and willingness of patients to new media in patient information such as the computerised patient information method. Also, at examining whether patients take in the information provided in a similar manner as in standardised informing. In order to test this, 90 probands were informed by means of the three different methods and, subsequently, interviewed about the content put across. The results show that amongst a subjective evaluation of the three methods the option which performs best is the detailed patient information by the physician. Naturally, especially older patients feel best looked after by a thorough information session with a physician. Nevertheless, the computerised patient information, too, is being rated higher than the conventional patient information. With regards to the sustainability of the content put across, the results show that patients informed by means of a conventional patient information, tend to forget the relevant information even within minutes afterwards. In direct contrast to that, patients informed by means of an extensive or, alternatively, computerised patient information retain the relevant information better. Both methods show significantly higher results in comparison with standardised patient information. The best performer is the computerised patient information which shows highest ratings but does not vary significantly from extensive patient information. Consequently, the deployment of the ACTO-AVIO software offers a valid method of enhancing patient care especially under consideration of the further development of costs in health care and a further shortenage in patient time physicians will have to face