Health Information Mailed on Request

ABSTRACT

Mayo Clinic Rochester has a comprehensive Patient Education Center. Upon request, the Center mails health information to patients and families. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate who was requesting the information, the perceived value of this service, and the willingness of consumers to pay for the mailings. The study also investigated whether the mailed information had an impact on requestor knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Staff related costs for mailing packets were estimated. Two hundred sixty questionnaires were mailed; one hundred thirty were returned. Information requestors were predominantly female, over 40, college educated and from out-of-state. Information increased knowledge, facilitated decision-making, and decreased anxiety in a majority of patients. Results prompted changes in staffing and content of mailings. Benefits of offering free mailings on request continue to outweigh staffing costs.

Key Words:

• Health information
• patient education
• patient satisfaction
• evaluation