Abstract
Purpose The primary objective of this study was to evaluate if the current mechanisms of
preoperative counseling influence patients' expectations of shoulder surgery.
Methods Patients were asked to complete the Hospital for Special Surgery's (HSS) Shoulder
Surgery Expectations Survey. The first survey was completed before the first appointment
with one of four fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons. The second survey was completed
after patients consented for surgery. Our analysis also included patient demographics
and surgical factors.
Results A total of 41 patients completed the HSS Shoulder Surgery Expectations Survey before
and after their first appointment with the surgeon during which they consented to
shoulder surgery. Before seeing the surgeon, the mean HSS Shoulder Surgery Expectations
score was 72.5. After seeing the surgeon and being consented for surgery, the mean
HSS Shoulder Surgery Expectations score was 74.8. The mean change in HSS Shoulder
Surgery Expectations score (+2.3) was not statistically significant (p value = 0.242). We did not find any significant correlations between patients' expectations
and demographics or surgical factors. Total HSS Shoulder Surgery Expectations scores
and change in scores were not statistically different between the four surgeons (p = 0.146).
Conclusion Patient expectations were not substantially altered after preoperative counseling.
Further investigation is necessary to investigate factors correlated with expectations,
the implication of unaltered expectations on the postoperative outcome, and methods
for improving the preoperative counseling process.
Level of Evidence Level II, prospective cohort study.
Keywords
expectations of surgery - preoperative counseling - patient recall - patient comprehension
- patient satisfaction - patient education
