Abstract
This Quality Improvement Project sought to improve communication between patients with intellectual disabilities and their psychiatrists by sharing medical information using an easy read letter format following psychiatric review. Writing directly to patients is in keeping with good medical practice. Previous studies have shown patients with intellectual disabilities prefer letters tailored to meet their needs. An easy read letter was used by nine psychiatrists who handed them to 100 consecutive patients after review. Feedback of acceptability to patients was obtained using a three-item facial rating scale and the use of free text. Feedback of acceptability was obtained from participating psychiatrists. Patients found the easy read letter helpful and felt it should be used routinely. Psychiatrists felt this approach was beneficial as well as aiding patient understanding of review. The easy read letter was reported to improve communication following psychiatric review. Limitations are acknowledged but it is concluded that an easy read letter should be adopted as routine practice following psychiatric review, for people with intellectual disabilities.
Highlights
In accordance with the National Health Service (NHS) Constitution (2021), patients in the United Kingdom have a right to be involved in planning and making decisions about their health and care with their care providers
This study suggested that patients with intellectual disabilities indicated that they tend to forget what is discussed in a psychiatric review and felt their understanding of mental illness would be increased by receiving letters given to them directly
Some of the free text comments that were provided identified why they found the format of this easy read letter helpful: ‘good reminder on how the appointment went’, reminder of ‘what was discussed’, ‘easy to read, easier to understand with pictures’, ‘improved understanding’, ‘breakdown of headings made it easy’, ‘clear and concise information’, ‘helped staff supporting remember what happened in the appointment’, ‘good reflection of what was discussed’
Summary
In accordance with the National Health Service (NHS) Constitution (2021), patients in the United Kingdom have a right to be involved in planning and making decisions about their health and care with their care providers They have a right to be given information and support to enable them to do this, and where appropriate, this right extends to their family and carers. All organizations’ that provide NHS care and, or, publicly funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard, which came into force in 2016 This standard sets out a specific, and consistent approach to meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with disabilities, impairment, or sensory loss. This standard places a statutory obligation on organizations to ensure people receive information in accessible formats, which they are able comprehend (NHS, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call