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Information about surgery: what does the public want to know?
1Southland Hospital, Invercargill, New Zealand. mark.richelle@paradise.net.nz
ANZ Journal of Surgery
|February 13, 2001
Summary
Patients prioritize knowing about treatment options, common risks, and the surgeon. They also strongly prefer to know about recovery time and their legal rights before surgery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Practice
- Patient Communication
- Informed Consent
Background:
- Informed consent is crucial in modern medicine.
- Understanding public preferences for preoperative information is essential.
- Establishing information priorities enhances patient-doctor communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine public preferences for preoperative information.
- To establish a priority order for information patients wish to receive before surgery.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessed patient priorities and preferences for 12 information statements.
- Two sections evaluated information priority and the desire to know specific details.
Main Results:
- Top priorities included treatment options, common risks, surgeon identity, and surgical technique.
- Highest 'prefer to know' responses were for recovery time, treatment options, legal rights, and surgeon identity.
Conclusions:
- Public assigns clear priorities to preoperative information aspects.
- Patients exhibit a strong desire for comprehensive preoperative knowledge.
- This study offers insights into desired surgeon-patient information sharing.