title: Patient satisfaction and information gain after the preanesthetic visit: a comparison of face-to-face interview, brochure, and video.
abstract: In this study we compared 3 methods of conducting the preanesthetic visit. We prospectively studied 197 consecutive surgical patients who were to undergo general anesthesia. The patients were randomized to a routine preanesthetic interview, a brochure plus an interview, or a self-made documentary video plus an interview. After the preanesthetic visit, the degree of patient satisfaction and information gain was quantified by a questionnaire for each method. The questions on patient satisfaction were assessed on a six-point scale, and those on information gain were assessed on a multiple-choice basis. The video plus interview group showed the highest point scores (98% of the possible maximum sum point score in patient satisfaction and 93% of the maximum sum score in information gain). In contrast, the patients of the brochure plus interview group revealed 93% for patient satisfaction and 80% for information gain, and in the standard interview group, the corresponding figures were 91% and 72%, respectively. The maximum sum scores in patient satisfaction and information gain were significantly different between the interview and the video groups, but not between the interview and the brochure groups. Therefore, these data suggest that the use of a documentary video to supplement a preoperative interview may enhance patient satisfaction and maximize information gain.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Anesthesiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; and †Department of Anesthesiology, Universities of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Snyder-Ramos
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seintsch
authors.forename: Bernd W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Böttiger
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Motsch
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording