1. Patients' awareness of postoperative adhesions: results from a multi-centre study and online survey.
- Author
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Kraemer, Bernhard, Birch, Jennifer, Birch, Judy, Petri, Nina, Ahmad, Umar, Marikar, Dilshad, Wallwiener, Markus, Wallwiener, Christian, Foran, Amanda, Rajab, Taufiek, Birch, Jennifer C, Birch, Judy V, and Rajab, Taufiek K
- Subjects
INFORMED consent (Medical law) ,SURGICAL complications ,TISSUE adhesions ,INTERNET surveys ,LAPAROSCOPY ,SURGEONS - Abstract
Purpose: To analyse and to compare how female patients are informed about adhesions and their related problems by surgeons preoperatively.Methods: Over 8 weeks 105 patients (Germany) and 82 (UK) patients admitted for laparoscopic or open abdominopelvic surgery were interviewed preoperatively in a multi-centre study in Germany and the UK. 212 responses to an online survey were also analysed.Results: Less than 50% of patients are made aware of adhesions. Even fewer patients were told about complications caused by adhesions. Lack of knowledge is cited by 46% of patients as a reason for health professionals not informing them about adhesions. 41% considered adhesions as not sufficiently important. Patients who had previously heard of adhesions were most commonly informed by physicians.Conclusions: There is lack of information among patients and physicians about adhesions and their complications. Written information before surgery and computer-based applications may help raise patient's awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2011
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