title: Pilot study to determine barriers to accessing sinus surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given that anecdotal evidence has suggested that certain groups of patients have difficulty accessing sinus surgery, this study aimed to discover the characteristics and access factors that deter patients from surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited from a community, academic otolaryngology-head and neck surgery practice serving a diverse community.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, patients with chronic sinusitis completed a pilot-tested questionnaire. We compared patients who already had sinus surgery to those who had not.
  
  
  METHODS
  The measured outcomes were descriptive statistics regarding patient demographics and direct ability to obtain sinus surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of those surveyed, 26 patients had undergone surgery, whereas 18 patients had not. There were no differences between groups in terms of ability to speak English; however, there was a smaller component of employed patients in the presurgery group compared to the postoperative group. Age and ethnicity differed between groups, with more North American-born, younger patients in the presurgery group. The ability to afford medications postoperatively or to take time off work for surgery did not differ between groups. Eighty percent of all patients said that they would not be able to take 2 weeks off work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that ethnicity and work status differed between patients offered surgery and those who have already undergone sinus surgery. Given that many patients reported difficulties in several access areas despite undergoing surgery, it seems that there are barriers to patients scheduling surgery that are being overcome by some.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Al
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiodo
authors.forename: Oakley
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El-Masri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires