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

Patient preparedness influences the overall patient experience for elective surgery. Thirty percent of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients require a staged arthroplasty to correct bilateral arthritis, therefore preparedness and outcomes were compared between the first and second surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore if patients felt more prepared for their second surgery and examine differences in patient-reported outcomes (PROs). An exploratory, retrospective chart review was done to assess patients' feeling prepared for surgery, PROs, and surgical outcomes for patients undergoing staged bilateral TJAs. Fifty-eight percent of patients felt "very prepared" for the first surgery, whereas 76% felt "very prepared" for the second surgery (p = .027). Twenty-nine percent felt their postoperative pain management plan was very clearly communicated to them for the first surgery compared to 67% for their second surgery (p < .001). PROs and surgical outcomes showed no significant differences. While surgical outcomes do not differ between contralateral sides for staged bilateral TJA, patients report feeling more prepared for their second surgery. Patients' varying experiences of feeling prepared for their surgeries can help nurses refine content and optimize patient preoperative education efforts.