In-Person Versus Video Preoperative Visit: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study further supports virtual visits for gynecologic preoperative care.

The objective of this study was to determine if preoperative video visits are noninferior to in-person visits in pelvic reconstructive surgery. Secondary objectives are as follows: patient satisfaction, convenience, visit duration, total perioperative visits, and patient travel time/distance.

Noninferiority randomized-controlled trial of patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery randomized to in-person or video counseling. The primary outcome was a composite score on the Preoperative Preparedness Questionnaire.

Demographics were similar except for higher body mass index (BMI) in the video group (29.5 vs 26.3; P = 0.01), and fewer patients in the video group used text messaging for health care delivery (40.7% vs 59.3%, P = 0.04). Video visits were noninferior to in-person visits in Preoperative Preparedness Questionnaire scores (62.5 ± 4.6 vs 63.0 ± 3.6; difference = 0.5; 95% confidence interval, -0.8, □). There was no difference in "strongly agree" response to question 11, "Overall, I feel prepared for my upcoming surgery" (79.6% vs 88.9%, P = 0.19). Satisfaction was higher for video visits based on composite Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Surgical Care Survey scores (31.3 ± 1.5 vs 30.5 ± 2, P = 0.02). Video visits were more convenient (100% vs 85.2%, P < 0.01), of shorter duration for patients (39.3 ± 14.0 minutes vs 55.9 ± 18.9 minutes; P < 0.01), and similar length for health care providers (28.8 ± 9.6 minutes vs 28.2 ± 9.8 minutes; P = 0.77). The video visit group had fewer office visits (2.0 vs 3.0, P < 0.01) and traveled 66 minutes ( P < 0.01) and 28 miles ( P < 0.01) less.

Preoperative video visits are noninferior to in-person visits for preparing patients for pelvic reconstructive surgery.