TY - JOUR T1 - The use of audiotapes in consultations with women from high risk breast cancer families: a randomised trial JF - Journal of Medical Genetics JO - J Med Genet SP - 697 LP - 703 DO - 10.1136/jmg.39.9.697 VL - 39 IS - 9 AU - E Lobb AU - P Butow AU - B Meiser AU - A Barratt AU - J Kirk AU - M Gattas AU - E Haan AU - K Tucker Y1 - 2002/09/01 UR - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/39/9/697.abstract N2 - Recall of medical information is notoriously poor. In methodologically rigorous studies of cancer patients' recall, our group found that patients recall about 25% of all the facts presented and just under half of the five to six facts nominated as particularly crucial by the doctor.1 Studies on genetic counselling, on the other hand, generally show that genetic counselling appears to be effective in increasing knowledge of the mode of inheritance.2 However, risk figures are generally poorly recalled, suggesting that there may be potential for improving the effectiveness of information giving.3Several sources of poor patient understanding have been identified, including poor communication techniques and lack of time in the consultation,4 patient anxiety,4,5 and patient denial.6 Thus, interventions designed to improve patient understanding need to compensate for anxiety and time constraints by providing a mechanism for flexible information review, to be sensitive to patients' varying information needs, and to be economical in time and costs. An audiotape of the consultation appears to satisfy these criteria.A recent review of published reports on audiotaping in the oncology consultation concluded that providing audiotapes to patients is beneficial.7 It can allow for review of the information presented, serve as a stimulus for future discussion, facilitate family communication about the illness, and can be a clinically effective intervention as it is inexpensive and easily incorporated into clinical practice.Studies have examined the effect of audiotapes on patients' psychological well being, information recall, and satisfaction. Results for psychological well being have been conflicting. Studies have ranged from showing a significant reduction in anxiety,8 to no reduction,1 to showing a detrimental effect.9 Differences in findings may be partly explained by the heterogeneity of samples studied. For example, studies included patients with advanced carcinomas,8 both newly … ER -