Examining Preoperative Patient Education and Preparedness Using Patient-Reported Outcomes for Patients Undergoing...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Surgical Patient Experience
• Health Education

Background:

• Patient preparedness is crucial for elective surgery experiences.
• Staged bilateral total joint arthroplasty (TJA) affects 30% of TJA patients.
• Understanding preparedness differences between staged surgeries is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient preparedness between the first and second staged TJA.
• To examine differences in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between staged TJAs.
• To identify factors influencing preparedness for staged bilateral TJA.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory, retrospective chart review.
• Assessed patient preparedness, PROs, and surgical outcomes.
• Included patients undergoing staged bilateral TJAs.

Main Results:

• 76% felt prepared for the second surgery vs. 58% for the first (p = .027).
• Postoperative pain management communication improved significantly for the second surgery (67% vs. 29%, p < .001).
• No significant differences were found in PROs or surgical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Patients report increased preparedness and better pain management communication for second staged TJA.
• Surgical outcomes do not differ between the first and second staged TJA.
• Findings can inform preoperative education strategies for nurses.