Patient leaflets 'don't work'

Minor illnesses may not need a GP

Patient information leaflets have little impact on the number of patients visiting their doctors for minor illnesses, says research.

Doctors are keen that patients learn more about minor illnesses which may not require their attention.

This is partly to reduce the pressure on busy surgeries, particularly during the 'flu season.

However, the study, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests the advice leaflets are not as effective as hoped.

Four thousand patients were randomly chosen to receive either a 42-page booklet on the self-management of conditions, a summary card containing similar, but less information, or a one-page leaflet simply detailing surgery opening times.

Although those who received the booklet or summary card did visit the doctor less often with minor illness than those who received the opening times leaflet, when quizzed about their willingness to wait rather than go straight to the doctor, all three groups were virtually the same.

'Limited effect'

The authors, GPs from the Southampton area, said: "Most patients find information about minor illness provided by post useful, and it helps their confidence in managing illness.

"Information may reduce the number attending commonly with minor illness, but the effect on overall contacts is likely to be modest.

"These data suggest that posting detailed information booklets...would have a limited effect."

Kristin McCarthy, the director the Doctor Patient Partnership, said that it was more important for doctors to speak personally to their patients to drive home the message that many minor illnesses do not require their attention.

She said: "It's an ongoing campaign - I can understand the survey but we won't give up.

"Changing people's attitudes is not easy."