Assessment of the effects of a taped cognitive behavior message on postoperative complications (therapeutic suggestions under anesthesia).
BACKGROUND
The authors studied whether playing a taped cognitive-behavior message during and immediately following bariatric surgery will improve performance of a postoperative regimen designed to enhance recovery.


METHODS
The double-blinded placebo-controlled study consisted of 27 morbidly obese bariatric surgical patients randomly assigned to listen to either a blank (Controls) or a positive therapeutic message audiotape (Tape). A Postoperative Regimen Checklist (PRC) quantified different parts of the postoperative recovery regimen.


RESULTS
The data showed that patients in the Tape group, compared to the Controls: 1) achieved better scores at most PRC assessment points (p < 0.05), 2) required less encouragement to perform tasks (p < 0.05), and 3) were discharged from the hospital a mean of 1.6 days earlier.


CONCLUSIONS
A taped cognitive-behavioral message, played to patients repetitively during and immediately following bariatric surgery, is effective in enhancing postoperative compliance and reducing in-patient length of stay.
Cowan
G S
GS
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. owcinc@mindspring.com
Buffington
C K
CK
Cowan
G S
GS
Hathaway
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D003371:Cough; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period / Q000523:psychology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012119:Respiration; D013404:Suggestion; D013637:Tape Recording