Patients who receive audio recordings of their pre-op consults are better informed and less anxious about the procedure they're about to undergo, according to new research appearing in the April issue of Archives of Surgery.
Taped pre-op consultations give patients a tool they can use to review information they may have missed during face-to-face meetings with surgeons, provide a better understanding of the course of care and empower them to seek clarification of concepts they don't understand, which leads to increased satisfaction, say the study's authors.
Researchers at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland worked with 84 patients who were about to undergo coronary artery surgery for the first time; 30 patients received audio recordings of their pre-op consults, 25 received a general recording about the upcoming surgery and 29 received no tape. During pre-op interviews, patients who reviewed copies of their taped consults demonstrated a greater knowledge of the procedure, reported lower anxiety and depression levels and said they felt a sense of control over their own care, according to the study.
"It's a great idea," says David Renton, MD, an assistant professor in the department of surgery at Ohio State University in Columbus. "One of my attendings during residency used to record pre-op consults. He said it cut down on the number of times patients called his office before surgery with questions, which his staff liked."
Edward Mackay, MD, FACS, a vascular surgeon in St. Petersburg, Fla., agrees that taping consults provides thorough documentation that the risks, benefits and alternative treatment options are covered, but warns "taping can ultimately work against the doctor if important points are glossed over."
Daniel Cook
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