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CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurotrauma
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1808268
Original Article

Preoperative Educational Counseling: A Key to Improve Patient Satisfaction and Outcome in Neurosurgical Care

Shashank Nahar
1   Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Pavni Agrawal
2   Department of Neurology, Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
,
Prashant Lakhe
3   Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
,
Piyush Kumar Panchariya
4   Department of Neurosurgery, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Abstract

Background

Preoperative education is increasingly acknowledged as a cornerstone in improving surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction, particularly in high-risk specialties such as neurosurgery. Our study aims to assess the effects of preoperative education on patient satisfaction and outcomes in a neurosurgical procedure at our tertiary care center in India.

Materials and Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months, involving 96 adult patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures. Participants were divided into an intervention group, receiving a 45-minute structured preoperative education session, and a control group, receiving only verbal counseling without the additional structured educational session. Patient satisfaction was measured postoperatively, and clinical outcomes, including hospital stay duration, recovery times, and complication rates, were analyzed.

Results

Patients in the intervention group reported higher satisfaction scores and demonstrated shorter hospital stays. While the reduction in postoperative complications was not statistically significant, a downward trend was observed. Preoperative education emerged as a significant predictor of high satisfaction.

Conclusion

Comprehensive preoperative education in neurosurgery effectively reduces patient anxiety, enhances satisfaction, and facilitates faster recovery. Implementing structured, standardized educational programs is a cost-efficient approach to addressing misconceptions and improving outcomes, particularly in neurosurgery, where the complexity and perceived risks of brain and spinal surgeries often intensify patient concerns. Adopting this strategy in our practice will significantly contribute to delivering high-quality health care.

Keywords

preoperative education - patient satisfaction - neurosurgery - anxiety reduction - clinical outcomes - recovery time

Authors' Contributions

S.N. contributed to conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigations, resources, data curation, writing the original draft, writing the review and editing, supervision, project administration, and was a guarantor. P.A., P.L., and P.K.P. contributed to methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigations, resources, and writing review and editing.




Publication History

Article published online:
17 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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