Interview method affects incidence of postoperative sore throat

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Postoperative sore throat is a common complication following general anesthesia.
• The incidence of sore throat can be influenced by various factors, including intubation techniques and patient perception.
• Accurate assessment of postoperative symptoms is crucial for patient care and quality improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of postoperative sore throat using direct versus indirect questioning methods.
• To evaluate the impact of questioning technique on patient-reported outcomes after general anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 242 routine surgical patients who underwent general anesthesia.
• Patients were questioned about postoperative sore throat using either direct or indirect questioning.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare the incidence rates between the two methods.

Main Results:

• A significantly higher incidence of postoperative sore throat was reported when direct questioning was employed (p < 0.001).
• Direct questioning yielded more positive reports of sore throat compared to indirect methods.
• The difference in reported incidence was statistically significant, indicating a strong effect of the questioning approach.

Conclusions:

• The method of questioning significantly influences the reported incidence of postoperative sore throat.
• Direct questioning is more effective in eliciting reports of sore throat from patients post-general anesthesia.
• Healthcare providers should be aware of this bias when assessing postoperative symptoms to ensure accurate data collection.