title: The effects of giving patients verbal or written pre-operative information in gynecologic oncology surgery: a randomized study and the medical-legal point of view.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the verbal and written preoperative information in patients undergoing surgery for malignant gynaecologic disease, in terms of satisfaction about preoperative received informations, hospitalization days, postoperative pain experienced using visual analogue scale (VAS) and number of pain drugs used daily.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2008 to December 2012, consecutive patients with diagnosis of endometrial cancer, referred to the Division of Gynecology of University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, were enrolled. Eligible subjects were randomized into two groups: Group V (Verbal information ward) consisted of patients who had verbal preoperative information about surgical procedure and postoperative management and Group W (Written Information ward) consisted of patients who had written preoperative information. All preoperative and postoperative data were recorded. Concerning satisfaction about preoperative received informations, patients were asked to complete the QLQ-C30 and the EORTC INFO25.
  
  
  RESULTS
  190 patients were considered in this study. Group W (n=92) has a better info satisfaction (p=0.0008, statistically significant), a mean VAS value lower (p=0.02, statistically significant) and also a lower number of hospitalization days (p=0.0265, statistically significant) and pain medications used daily, (p=0.0120, statistically significant), comparing with group V (n=98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We support the use of preoperative information leaflet to better prepare patients for a surgical procedure, showing a faster recovery, low medications use and a better quality of life outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: r.angioli@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 336 Viale Regina Elena, Rome 00185, Lazio, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Plotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capriglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aloisi
authors.affiliation: Catania Forum, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Elisa
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aloisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luvero
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: a.miranda@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Campus Bio Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montera
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 336 Viale Regina Elena, Rome 00185, Lazio, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 336 Viale Regina Elena, Rome 00185, Lazio, Italy; Mediterranean Neurological Institute Neuromed IRCCS, 18 Via Atinense, Pozzilli 86077, IS, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013060:Speech
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Information; Medical-legal; Outpatients; Preoperative; Questionnaire