Patient recall after diagnostic laparoscopy for abdominal pain.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the study was to ascertain how well patients recall their discharge diagnosis and details of their surgical procedure after a diagnostic laparoscopy at our institution.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-five patients were identified as being eligible in the study. Patient characteristics and treatment details were recorded. They were then contacted by telephone and 258 patients participated (response rate 75%). They were asked the same seven questions by an investigator who was blinded to their treatment details and their responses recorded.


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 248 (96%) women and 10 (4%) men. Only seven persons (3%) were incorrect about the state of their appendix. However, 108 persons (42%) were incorrect about their discharge diagnosis. Seventy-one patients (28%) were unhappy with the information they received while in hospital. Age, whether pathology was found, dissatisfaction or type of operation was not found to significantly influence patient recall of diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that patients having a diagnostic laparoscopy at our institution often leave the hospital dissatisfied and with a poor understanding of their discharge diagnosis. This has important implications for future assessments of acute abdominal pain in these patients and can lead to misinformation and unnecessary surgical procedures.
Omundsen
Mark S
MS
Department of Surgery, Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand. markomundsen@hotmail.com
Dennett
Elizabeth
E
Walker
Heidi C
HC
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013997:Time Factors