[Analysis of the variables affecting patients' memorization and interpretation of information on...

We prospectively analyzed patients' memorisation and interpretation of preoperative information on the risks of thyroidectomy. This study was conducted in an academic tertiary care referral center, based on an inception cohort of 280 patients who were consecutively informed of the risks of thyroidectomy (unilateral laryngeal immobility, bilateral laryngeal immobility, hypocalcemia, common surgical complications, and perioperative death) by the same surgeon during the period 2003-2006. Univariate analysis was used to identify factors affecting memorisation and interpretation of the information delivered. After being informed of the risks, 14.6% of patients declined surgery, and 5% decided to postpone the operation for a few months. Among the 215 patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 0.9% remembered all five risks, 17.2% three or four, 61.4% one or two, and 20.4% none. The number of risks remembered did not vary over time. Age, occupation, and the year of the analysis influenced memorisation. In the immediate post-operative period, 85.5% of the patients had a positive opinion and 45.1% a negative opinion of the preoperative information, and 35.3% simultaneously expressed positive and negative opinions. The number of preoperative visits and the interval between the final preoperative visit and surgery both affected the patients' interpretation of the information. Patient memorisation of information on surgical risks is poor, and this results in major stress for the patient. After receiving this information, a significant proportion of patients decide to forego surgery.