Quality of Austrian and Dutch falls-prevention information: A comparative descriptive study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the quality of written patient information material available in Austrian and Dutch hospitals and nursing homes pertaining to falls prevention. Design: Comparative descriptive study design Setting: Hospitals and nursing homes in Austria and the Netherlands. Method: Written patient information material ( n = 77) was independently evaluated by two assessors using the 36-item Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) scale with regard to content, structure and identification data. EQIP global scores were calculated and country- and institution-specific (hospitals and nursing homes) differences were analysed. Results: The written patient information material available in Dutch hospitals had a significantly higher EQIP mean score than that in Austrian hospitals ( p < .0001). The difference in EQIP global score between the countries was not significant for the written patient information material in nursing homes ( p = .479). Sub-scale analyses indicated that Dutch institutions reached significantly higher mean values in the global scores for content and structure than Austrian ones ( p < .05). Conclusion: Although Dutch written patient information material pertaining to falls prevention was of higher quality than that in Austria, both countries suffered from shortcomings, especially with regard to content and identification data. Authors of written patient information material face a great challenge in taking consumer involvement and evidence-based criteria into account.