The systematic review of the effectiveness and meaningfulness of telephone pre-operative assessment for adults.

Abstract

Questions: 1. Is telephone preoperative assessment as effective as face‐to‐face preadmission clinic visits in terms of preparing the patient for elective surgery? 2. What are the perioperative experiences of adult patients who have received telephone based preoperative preparation prior to elective surgery? Objectives: This review will examine the best available evidence in regard to preoperative telephone patient assessment and preparation to determine the impact of this intervention on patient knowledge and expectations of their surgery and anaesthesia, compliance with preoperative and postoperative preparations, their levels of fear and anxiety, reduction in cancellations on day of surgery in comparison to face‐to‐face assessment. This review will also examine the patient experiences and satisfaction with this method of assessment. Thus both the evidence related to effectiveness and meaningfulness of telephone preoperative preparation on patient preparedness for elective surgery will be explored and synthesized. This will include a comparison of telephone assessment with face to face consultation in the preoperative preparation of the adult patient in day of surgery admission patients. Inclusion Criteria: Types of Participants: For both the quantitative and qualitative components this review will consider studies that include adult (> 18 years) patients having elective day or inpatient surgery in a hospital setting who have had a telephone preoperative consultation or face‐to‐face preadmission clinic visit. Emergency surgery is to be excluded. Phenomena of interest: The qualitative component of this review will focus on the experiences of patients who have utilised telephone based preoperative assessment. The quantitative component will focus on the comparison of effect of telephone‐based patient preparation for elective surgery with face‐to‐face preparation. Type of outcome: The quantitative component of the review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures related to the patient preparation for surgery including: • patient understanding and expectations of postoperative pain, nausea, anxiety, medication management and discharge planning • knowledge of procedure and anaesthetic, and informed consent • informed consent • anxiety • pain management • medication management • patient understanding and compliance with preoperative and postoperative activities