title: Public perception of LESS surgery and NOTES.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to determine public attitudes toward laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and to determine how they are impacted by age, gender, and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-two citizens completed a validated questionnaire. Pearson correlations were computed to determine relationships among items queried. Scores ranged from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) and are presented as median, mean ± SD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The citizens generally liked their physique (4, 4 ± 1.0) and felt attractive (4, 4 ± 1.0). LESS surgery was appealing if it involved no more risk or recovery and none to minimally more pain, operative time, and cost. Older and heavier citizens were more interested in reduced risk, pain, and operative/recovery time and less interested in scarring/appearance. Thirty-nine percent would consider NOTES, though only with no more risk, pain, operative time, and cost (<$200). Older people regarded NOTES more favorably. Lack of scarring with NOTES was most important by only 32% of those participants that would consider undergoing a NOTES procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acceptance of LESS surgery and NOTES depends upon no additional risk and no or minimally increased pain, recovery time, and cost. Improved cosmesis is not generally a priority, particularly in older or heavier people. Safety, pain, and recovery time remain major issues in deciding operative choices.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Digestive Disorders, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Sharona B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Steffanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sperry
authors.forename: Connor A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vice
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luberice
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rosemurgy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult