Information sharing in the Acute Care Setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sharing a Written Medical Summary with patients on the Post-take round: what are the perceived impacts?
IRAS ID
193350
Contact name
Zoe Fritz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 11 days
Research summary
The acute setting raises particular challenges for the patient-doctor relationship. Doctors form new relationships with patients, and gain significant amounts of information from them, in a very short period of time. The severity of the illnesses mean the margins for error in clinical decision-making are small, and patients may have reduced capacity or desire for engaging in shared decision-making.
Structured two-way communication (for example sharing parts of the medical notes) might be one way of encouraging appropriate questioning and facilitating well-placed trust. Medical records have been shared in other clinical environments, but never in the acute setting in the UK. Potential risks in sharing all medical records which have been explored in a previous study (Project ID: 166182 REC 15/EE/0457). These include doctors reducing the amount that they record and patients' concern about being overwhelmed by large amounts of non-relevant information. The possibility of a written summary being provided on the morning after admission was well received. Suggested content included: the problem the patient came in with; the possible causes for this problem; the working diagnosis; treatments being given; tests planned; what needs to happen before the patient leaves hospital. This study will pilot the feasibility and perceived impact of this approach: A summary template has been developed (based on evidence from he pervious research), and consenting doctors will use it on their ward rounds on those patients they believe would benefit from it. The electronic patient medical record means that this will be able to be printed out without creating significant new work load. Patients, doctors and nurses will be asked about their experiences of the summary record using a researcher delivered questionnaire. Understanding patient and clinician experiences and views on this could lead to changes in practice and greater patient engagement in the acute care setting.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0289
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion