How much do patients know? A multiple choice question paper for patients in the waiting room.

A questionnaire about knowledge of personal preventive medicine, treatment, and the appropriate use of health services was put to a population of patients attending their doctors' surgeries. The population was probably biased toward the younger and those willing to fill in such a questionnaire. The results showed a social class gradient in knowledge and a distressing degree of ignorance on some topics. Suggestions are made for using the method in a positive educational way in practices, and for further studies with improved methods.