Videoconferencing for the pre-operative interaction between patient and surgeon

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Care

Background:

• Pre-operative consultations are crucial for patient-surgeon communication.
• Traditional face-to-face interactions can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
• Exploring novel communication methods is essential for modern healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient and surgeon satisfaction with videoconferencing for pre-operative interactions.
• To compare videoconferencing with conventional face-to-face consultations.
• To assess the feasibility and potential efficiency gains of using videoconferencing in otolaryngology.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving otolaryngology patients.
• Comparison between face-to-face consultations and tablet-based videoconferencing.
• Data collection through patient/surgeon questionnaires and time-point recordings.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in overall patient satisfaction scores between videoconferencing and face-to-face groups.
• Similar mean interaction and waiting times between the two groups.
• Surgeons expressed satisfaction, with 60% open to incorporating videoconferencing.

Conclusions:

• Videoconferencing is a feasible and effective tool for pre-operative patient-surgeon interactions.
• Patient satisfaction remains high, comparable to traditional methods.
• Potential for enhanced efficiency in busy surgical settings.