Patients and professionals attitude towards postoperative recovery: Academic competency assessment versus patients real time experience.

摘要

Open and laparoscopic surgery is evolving fastest ever; however the professional advice regarding patient’s postoperative care and transient lifestyle changes remains historical. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge based advice from surgical trainees and general practitioners about accumulative postoperative care after routine surgical operations in comparison to patient’s journey back to routine life activities. Materials and Methods: Patients aged 65 years or less, who had routine surgical procedures over a six-month period completed a self-devised questionnaire with regards to time taken to return to normal activities following surgery. A further questionnaire was distributed to GPs and surgeons, including trainee doctors. Results: Varicose vein surgery: Patients take a shorter time to return to heavy work, driving and normal activities than that advised by both sets of doctors. Open hernia repair: Patients take longer to return to office work and normal activities than that advised by both sets of doctors. Laparoscopic hernia repair: Patients take a shorter time to return to heavy work, than that advised by both sets of doctors. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Patients take longer to return to office work, but a shorter period of time to return to heavy work than that advised by both sets of doctors. Conclusion: The advice received by the patients with regards to their post operative recovery robustly varies between surgeons and non surgical professionals, and does not reflect the real time experience of patients. A consensus among surgeons and primary care physicians is essential to streamline surgical care pathway.