title: Patient knowledge and expectations in endoscopic sinus surgery.
abstract: The potential for patient misconceptions about endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has implications for the informed consent process. An understanding of patients' baseline knowledge and sources of information regarding ESS would improve surgeons' ability to counsel patients preoperatively and provide effective educational materials.
  
  
  
  A prospective patient survey was performed at 2 independent tertiary care medical centers. Patients who were offered ESS as part of routine rhinology care were queried about expectations, knowledge, and sources of information regarding ESS before preoperative counseling.
  
  
  
  Of the 30 patients who completed the survey, 70% of patients reported doing research on ESS before the visit. The most common sources of information were friends and family (40%), YouTube (30.0%), and WebMD (26.7%). The most important factors researched included risks (95%), benefits (85%), and recovery related issues (70%). Patients in the younger group used healthcare and physician rating websites whereas none of the patients older than the median age of 44 years reported using them (33.3% vs 0%, p = 0.028). The older group more often relied upon healthcare providers than the younger group (71.5% vs 18.8%, p = 0.011). A range of responses were noted regarding early postoperative symptoms and recovery time.
  
  
  
  This study identified a varied understanding of ESS including significant misconceptions about risks, anesthesia, and need for ongoing therapy, among others. Patients obtain their information from a variety of sources including peers, other doctors, and the Internet. Awareness of the gaps in patient knowledge and the sources of information will improve preoperative counseling.
authors.affiliation: Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Abtin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabaee
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Zachary G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Schwam
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Fayanne K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. rpeter.manes@yale.edu.
authors.forename: R Peter
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Manes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; D002921:Cicatrix; D004172:Diplopia; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: chronic disease; decision making; general surgery; sinusitis; surgical procedure endoscopic