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Preoperative expectations and values of patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery
Gary S Chuang1, Brian C Leach, Lee Wheless
1Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. gary.s.chuang@gmail.com
Background:
Dermatologists have championed Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for its unsurpassed treatment success for skin cancers, safety profile, cost-effectiveness, and tissue-sparing quality. It is unclear whether patients undergoing MMS also value these characteristics.
Objective:
To evaluate patients' preoperative expectations of MMS and identify the factors that may influence such expectations
Methods:
The study prospectively recruited participants who were newly diagnosed with skin cancer and referred for MMS. A questionnaire listing the characteristics of MMS was given to the participants asking them to score the importance of each characteristic on a 10-point scale. The participants were also asked to provide information regarding their gender, age, subjective health status, education level, family annual income, and their referral source
Results:
On average, participants placed the highest value, in descending order, on a treatment that yielded the highest cure rate, reconstruction initiation only after complete tumor removal, and the surgeon being a skin cancer specialist. Overall, participants placed high values on characteristics of MMS that dermatologists have long esteemed.
Conclusion:
Our data corroborate that MMS is a valuable procedure that meets the expectations not just of physicians, but also of patients. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Insights
Patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) prioritize high cure rates and expert surgeons, aligning with physician-valued characteristics. This confirms MMS meets both patient and physician expectations for skin cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Surgical Oncology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is recognized by dermatologists for its high success rates, safety, cost-effectiveness, and tissue preservation in treating skin cancers.
- However, patient perspectives on these valued characteristics of MMS were not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient expectations before undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).
- To identify factors influencing patient expectations regarding MMS treatment.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recruitment of patients newly diagnosed with skin cancer referred for MMS.
- Utilized a questionnaire to assess the importance of MMS characteristics on a 10-point scale.
- Collected demographic and socioeconomic data, including age, gender, health status, education, income, and referral source.
Main Results:
- Patients ranked highest the importance of a high cure rate, reconstruction after complete tumor removal, and treatment by a skin cancer specialist.
- Patient-valued characteristics of MMS generally aligned with those esteemed by dermatologists.
Conclusions:
- Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) effectively meets patient expectations, validating its value beyond physician appreciation.
- The findings support MMS as a procedure that satisfies both clinical and patient-centered priorities in skin cancer management.
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