Is day-case cataract surgery an attractive alternative from the patients' point of view? A questionnaire survey.
Cataract surgery is the most common elective surgical procedure undertaken in elderly people. In many European countries and in the USA cataract surgery is normally a day-case procedure without an overnight stay in hospital, unlike the situation in Austria where fewer than 2% of patients are day cases. However, there is a lack of prospective studies on patients' need for and acceptance of day-case surgery. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate patients' demand and suitability for outpatient surgery, based on analysis of preoperative questionnaires on availability of family and/or social support and on preoperative ophthalmologic examination. Among 500 consecutive patients with cataract, 154 (41.8%) chose a day-case procedure and 256 (58.2%) preferred inpatient admission. Patients preferring full admission were older (mean age 76.4+/-8.1 vs. 72.73+/-9.5 years, P<0.001), had worse visual acuity (0.55+/-0.20 vs. 0.66+/-0.23, P<0.001), were more likely to be female (63.9% vs. 47.0%, P=0.001), to live more than one hour away from the hospital (26.5% vs. 12.5%, P<0.001) and have no carer at home (43.0% vs. 6.5%, P<0.001). Patients favoring day-case surgery were more likely to be able to attend an ophthalmologic check-up 24 h after surgery (96.7% vs. 59.6%, p<0.001). The majority of patients indicated a preference for inpatient care, but this may be a reflection of their previous hospital experience and a matter of custom in the elderly population. Information, education and better organization of after-surgery services could help increase the attractiveness of cataract surgery as an outpatient procedure in Austria. Our findings could also be relevant to day-case services in medical care in general.
Weingessel
Birgit
B
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Richter-Mueksch
Sibylla
S
Weingessel
Andreas
A
Gnad
Hans
H
Vécsei-Marlovits
Pia Veronika
PV
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D001317:Austria; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires