[Influence of extensive information on readiness for surgery]

207 patients who already had had one lower wisdom tooth extracted surgically were interviewed about their readiness for accepting the same kind of surgery again. 9% of this cohort refused the repeated (fictitious) surgery. After extensive information about four serious post-/intraoperative complications 10%--only one percent more--now refused surgery. However, there were shifts within the "yes" and "no" groups. The overall outcome of this study whose figures may only be applied to other types of surgery with great reservations and care, demonstrate the trend that comprehensive and detailed information does not have any great influence on the attitude of the patient towards surgery.