title: Pre-operative education prior to elective hip arthroplasty surgery improves postoperative outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enhanced recovery programmes have improved outcomes following elective arthroplasty surgery. There are few studies assessing the role of patient education. We therefore assessed the outcomes for patients treated at our unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our enhanced recovery programme, all patients are offered the chance to attend a pre-operative education class. Not all patients attend, thus allowing comparison of outcomes using our prospectively collected database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between April 2009 and March 2013, 318 patients underwent elective total hip replacement (THR): 233 attended the class, and 85 did not. Patients attending had a significantly reduced length of stay when compared with nonattenders (3.53 vs 4.27 days, p = 0.046). This produced cost savings of >£10,000 per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis demonstrates that preoperative education produces significantly shorter lengths of stay and cost savings. There are also effects on mobilisation and outcome scores. Patients should therefore be encouraged to attend these classes.
authors: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Croesnewydd Road, Wrexham, LL13 7TD, UK, lawrence.moulton@doctors.net.uk.
authors: Lawrence S
authors: LS
authors: Moulton
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Evans
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Starks
authors: Tony
authors: T
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017046:Cost Savings; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057234:Preoperative Period