A study of changes in the information routines in a neurological ward.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether changes in the method of organizing medical and nursing care in the neurological ward would affect the patients' satisfaction with information during their stay in the ward. The changes consisted of systematic information routines, systematic follow-up and feedback of information which was provided by a 'mentor' system and systematic routines for written communication between informants and 'mentors' about the patients' need for information. A general improvement of the information to the patients occurred. General information was judged almost completely adequate with the aid of the new routines. The effect of the organizational changes upon the patients' satisfaction with medical information could not be fully studied. The physicians continued to give information about diagnosis, prognosis and after-care very late during the patients' hospital stay and this information was not followed up at all during the experimental period.