background There are many social, legal and therapeutic reasons why therapists should give their patients more detailed information. A brochure containing 27 items has been created because of the difficulty that the therapist has in giving all the necessary information during a first consultation.
aim To let the brochure be evaluated and thus find out whether the information it provides meets the standards/expectations of both fellow-professionals and patients.
method Fifty-five professionals and 80 patients were asked for their views on the brochure in general and on its lay-out. The professionals were also asked about the methods they use to provide patients with information.
results There sponses of 26 professionals and 46 patients showed that only 1 in 4 professionals informs patients systematically and that only 1 in 8 uses a hand-out, although they all regarded many items as essential. Patients and professionals greatly appreciated our brochure as a tool for giving patients detailed information, particularly about medico-legal matters such as driving ability, suicide prevention, continuity of care and the (Belgian) Law on Patients' Rights.
conclusion The proposed brochure was considered to be a helpful tool for informing patients about several important topics. Not only does it have a stimulating effect on the therapeutic process, it also gives both parties something useful to hold on to.