Evaluating information leaflets in a neurorehabilitation setting.

Good communication between service providers and service users has been widely recommended in the rehabilitation of acquired brain injury and other long-term neurological conditions. This paper summarises the process of developing and evaluating a set of three patient information leaflets as one aspect of such communication within an adult inpatient neurorehabilitation setting. Service user feedback was elicited via a questionnaire given to all consecutive admissions (patient or family member as appropriate) over a six-month period. Overall, participants reported the leaflets to be useful, easy to read and leading to perceived increases in understanding. The stages involved in developing appropriate materials suitable for a mixed audience of both patients and carers are outlined. Key issues identified during this project are also discussed, including the need for clarity regarding the aims of the information prior to development (eg information versus promoting compliance) and the need to consider readability levels, while also recognising the necessary use of some rehabilitation-specific vocabulary. This paper and subsequent reflection will have relevance for future informationprovis ion projects within the authors' centre, and for many other services embarking on similar endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]