Abstract

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare the level of information provided in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) patient information leaflets in the London and East of England Deaneries

DESIGN: All trusts in the London and East of England Deanery who offer an ESWL service were contacted and leaflets were compared

SETTING: London and East of England Deanery

PARTICIPANTS: Alan Askari, Iqbal Shergill

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Examination of key information that was communicated to ESWL patients via leaflets

RESULTS: 12 trusts responded across the two deaneries. There was significant variation in the amount of information provided in the leaflets with some leaflets not containing an adequate level of instruction or information to patients

CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose that a national standardised information leaflet should be incorporated with the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) procedure specific information leaflet for ESWL procedures.

JRSM Short Rep. 2012 May;3(5):35. doi: 10.1258/shorts.2012.011163. Epub  2012 May 30

PMID: 22666532 [PubMed - in process]

Comment

Comment

Obviously there were not a lot of lawsuits because of ESWL treatments in England.  The quality of informed consent material for the patients is really poor: Anticoagulants mentioned in only 7/12, Haematoma in 9/12, Steinstrasse  in 5/12  and Pregnancy in 3/12.

Peter Alken