Aim To determine the amount of information patients received on post-operative nausea and vomiting and whether this could be improved.

Method A convenience sample of 140 post-operative patients was questioned. The patients were asked whether they had received any information, whether they thought information provision could be improved, whether an information leaflet would be useful and what information could be included. This led to a patient information leaflet being designed and piloted with 30 patients. A clear policy for patient education and staff training was also drawn up and a second audit was later carried out with 150 patients.

Results About half the patients questioned in the first audit had not received any information, but thought that a patient information leaflet would be useful.

On re-audit, 86 per cent of patients questioned had received information. Approximately half had the new patient information leaflet and only four did not receive any information. About 80 per cent of patients no longer thought it important to improve the information provision.

Conclusion This study showed that addressing information provision on post-operative nausea and vomiting with the use of audit led to a vast improvement in patient satisfaction with the amount of information they received.