Post-operative telephone review is cost-effective and acceptable to patients.
dc.contributor.author | Gray, R T | |
dc.contributor.author | Sut, M K | |
dc.contributor.author | Badger, S A | |
dc.contributor.author | Harvey, C F | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2012-02-01T10:23:59Z | |
dc.date.available | 2012-02-01T10:23:59Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2012-02-01T10:23:59Z | |
dc.identifier.citation | Ulster Med J. 2010 May;79(2):76-9. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.issn | 0041-6193 (Print) | en_GB |
dc.identifier.issn | 0041-6193 (Linking) | en_GB |
dc.identifier.pmid | 21116423 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/207398 | |
dc.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing selective minor emergency and elective procedures are followed up by a nurse-led structured telephone review six weeks post-operatively in our hospital. Our study objectives were to review patients' satisfaction, assess cost-effectiveness and compare our practice with other surgical units in Northern Ireland (NI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Completed telephone follow-up forms were reviewed retrospectively for a three-year period and cost savings calculated. Fifty patients were contacted prospectively by telephone using a questionnaire to assess satisfaction of this follow-up. A postal questionnaire was sent to 68 general and vascular surgeons in NI, assessing individual preferences for patient follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1378 patients received a telephone review from September 2005 to September 2008. One thousand one hundred and seventy-seven (85.4%) were successfully contacted, while 201 (14.6%) did not respond despite multiple attempts. One hundred and forty-seven respondents (10.7%) required further outpatient follow-up, thereby saving 1231 outpatient reviews, equivalent to pound41,509 per annum. Thirty-nine (78%) patients expected post-operative follow-up, with 29 (58%) expecting this in the outpatient department. However, all patients were satisfied with the nurse-led telephone review. Fifty-three (78%) consultants responded. Those who always, or occasionally, review patients post-operatively varies according to the operation performed, ranging from 2.2% appendicectomy patients to 40.0% for varicose vein surgery. CONCLUSION: Current practice in NI varies, but a significant proportion of patients are not routinely reviewed. This study confirmed that patients expect post-operative follow-up. A nurse-led telephone review service is acceptable to patients, cost-effective and reduces the number of unnecessary outpatient reviews. | |
dc.language.iso | eng | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Cost-Benefit Analysis | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Humans | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Interviews as Topic/*methods | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Northern Ireland | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Nurse's Role | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Patient Satisfaction/*statistics & numerical data | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Physician's Practice Patterns/*statistics & numerical data | en_GB |
dc.subject.mesh | Postoperative Care/*economics/methods/*nursing | en_GB |
dc.title | Post-operative telephone review is cost-effective and acceptable to patients. | en_GB |
dc.contributor.department | Department of Surgery, Mater Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust,, Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 6AB. rgray05@qub.ac.uk | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | The Ulster medical journal | en_GB |
dc.description.province | Leinster | |
html.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing selective minor emergency and elective procedures are followed up by a nurse-led structured telephone review six weeks post-operatively in our hospital. Our study objectives were to review patients' satisfaction, assess cost-effectiveness and compare our practice with other surgical units in Northern Ireland (NI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Completed telephone follow-up forms were reviewed retrospectively for a three-year period and cost savings calculated. Fifty patients were contacted prospectively by telephone using a questionnaire to assess satisfaction of this follow-up. A postal questionnaire was sent to 68 general and vascular surgeons in NI, assessing individual preferences for patient follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1378 patients received a telephone review from September 2005 to September 2008. One thousand one hundred and seventy-seven (85.4%) were successfully contacted, while 201 (14.6%) did not respond despite multiple attempts. One hundred and forty-seven respondents (10.7%) required further outpatient follow-up, thereby saving 1231 outpatient reviews, equivalent to pound41,509 per annum. Thirty-nine (78%) patients expected post-operative follow-up, with 29 (58%) expecting this in the outpatient department. However, all patients were satisfied with the nurse-led telephone review. Fifty-three (78%) consultants responded. Those who always, or occasionally, review patients post-operatively varies according to the operation performed, ranging from 2.2% appendicectomy patients to 40.0% for varicose vein surgery. CONCLUSION: Current practice in NI varies, but a significant proportion of patients are not routinely reviewed. This study confirmed that patients expect post-operative follow-up. A nurse-led telephone review service is acceptable to patients, cost-effective and reduces the number of unnecessary outpatient reviews. |
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Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin
Formerly Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin