Patients' awareness of postoperative adhesions: results from a multi-centre study and online survey.

摘要

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.