[Rate of surgery cancellation at a university hospital and reasons for patients' absence from the planned surgery].
This study aimed to identify the rate of surgery cancellation and to verify the reasons for patients' absence from the planned surgery. The study was carried out at a secondary care university hospital in São Paulo city. Sixty patients whose surgeries were cancelled were interviewed during 3 months. Results showed that the rate of surgery cancellation was 19.91%, and that absenteeism was responsible for 54.30% of the 186 cancelled surgeries. Ten reasons for patient absenteeism were found; 53.33% were due to institutional problems, in most cases because patients were unaware of the date of surgery; 28.33% had clinical problems such as upper airway infection and other diseases; social conditions were responsible for 10.00%, related to economic and family problems; and 8.33% were cancelled by the patient.
Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo. maluhabib@hu.usp.br
Maria Lúcia Habib
ML
Paschoal
Maria Alice Fortes
MA
Gatto
D000041:Absenteeism; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D006752:Hospital Planning; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009042:Motivation; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review