Making the most of the out-patient consultation: a randomised controlled study to evaluate the use of patient lists

ISRCTN	ISRCTN04884421
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN04884421
Secondary identifying numbers	RDC00795; NRR ID: N0256032607

Submission date: 23/01/2004
Registration date: 23/01/2004
Last edited: 20/09/2010

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Mr Brian Glasser
Scientific

Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QG
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)20 7794 0500
Email	b.glasser@pcps.ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Study design	Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)	Hospital
Study type	Treatment
Scientific title
Study objectives	The 'new referral' out-patient appointment bridges primary and secondary care and has great significance for patient and health services alike, since its purpose is to determine the management of problems for which General Practitioners (GPs) feel referral is necessary. A critical component of the appointment is the exchange of information. The proposed project aims to improve the quality of the exchange by means of the patient bringing a list of questions (prepared with the GP) to the out-patient appointment; with a view to increasing satisfaction levels relating to the consultation.
Ethics approval(s)	Approval obtained from the Trust ethics committee.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Service provision; referrals; out-patient consultation
Intervention	Sending a help card and accompanying letter to out-patients before their first appointment.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure	The help card and accompanying letter help patients to focus on what they wanted to find out during their first out-patient appointment.
Secondary outcome measures	1. The help card and letter give patients 'permission' to ask questions 2. The help card and letter encourage patients to prepare questions in advance 3. The help card helps patients to remember questions during the consultation
Overall study start date	01/02/1997
Completion date	01/04/1998

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	1077
Key inclusion criteria	1. Patients over the age of 16 2. New referrals 3. Referred by a participating GP for a gynaecology, dermatology or orthopaedics apppointment
Key exclusion criteria	1. Patients under the age of 16 2. Repeat referrals 3. Patients not referred by a participating GP for a gynaecology, dermatology or orthopaedics apppointment
Date of first enrolment	01/02/1997
Date of final enrolment	01/04/1998

Locations

Countries of recruitment

England
United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

London
NW3 2QG
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

NHS R&D Regional Programme Register - Department of Health (UK)
Government

The Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NL
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)20 7307 2622
Email	dhmail@doh.gsi.org.uk
Website	http://www.doh.gov.uk

Funders

Funder type

Government

NHS Executive London (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination plan	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/09/1999		Yes	No