Provision of information and behavioural instruction has been demonstrated to improve recovery after surgery. However, patients draw on a range of information sources and it is important to establish which sources patients use and how this influences perceptions and behaviour as they progress along the surgical pathway. In this qualitative, exploratory and longitudinal study, the use of information and instruction were explored from the perspective of people undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery. Seven participants undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery were interviewed using semi-structured interviews 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks and 4 months post-surgery. Nineteen interviews were conducted in total. Topic guides included sources of knowledge, reasons for help-seeking and opting for surgery and factors influencing return to activity. Data were analysed thematically according to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Participants sought information from a range of sources, focusing on informal information sources before surgery and using information and instruction from health-care professionals post-surgery. This information influenced behaviours including deciding to undergo surgery, use of pain medication and returning to usual activity. Anxiety and help-seeking resulted when unexpected post-surgical events occurred such as extensive bruising. Findings were consistent with psychological and sociological theories. Overall, participants were positive about the information and instruction they received but expressed a desire for more timely information on post-operative adverse events.

Information and behavioural instruction along the health‐care pathway: the perspective of people undergoing hernia repair surgery and the role of formal and informal information sources

We wished to explore the volume and accessibility of information about anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscal injuries on the Internet. One hundred patients attending a Sports Trauma NHS outpatient clinic were surveyed to determine Internet use and to identify the terms that the patients used to describe their injuries. These search terms were used to conduct an extensive Internet search on five search engines for information about ACL and meniscal injuries. It emerged that 40% of patients attending outpatient clinic had searched the Internet. Over half of this patient group (58%) stated they would consider using the Internet to retrieve information about their medical condition. A total of 5947 web pages were accessed and categorised according to content. Only 393 (7%) pages contained information relevant to ACL and meniscal injuries. It appears that the number of patients using the Internet to retrieve information on their condition is increasing. As patients usually have no skills in information retrieval and the amount of information retrieved using layman's terms is negligible, their access to reliable and valid web sites containing medical information should be facilitated. Language: en

S. Rose

Papers

Information About Knee Injuries on the Internet