Survey Says: Patients Prep Harder for Vacation than for an Operation
January 29 2008 - 5:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
New book from American College of Surgeons helps patients do the
research necessary to achieve the best results CHICAGO, Jan. 29
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In today's information-rich environment,
American consumers are stepping onto new car lots and into big box
super stores more prepared than ever. But according to results of
the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) latest "On the Table"
consumer survey, when it comes to needing an operation, patients
are significantly less proactive in learning about the surgical
procedure they will undergo. The findings suggest that for
patients, obtaining additional knowledge about their operation
prior to the procedure could improve their overall experience and
outcome. The survey, which quantifies the lack of time consumers
are likely to spend preparing for an operation versus preparing for
other major life events (for instance, changing jobs, buying or
leasing a new car, spending more than $1,000 on something for the
home, or spending more than $1,000 on a vacation), demonstrates the
need for the new book, I Need an Operation... Now What? A Patient's
Guide to a Safe and Successful Outcome, from the ACS. The book,
written by Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS, the executive director of
the College, lays out the key things patients should consider
before consenting to an operation; the questions they should ask
their surgeon; and helpful pre- and post-operative tips to ensure
they achieve the best results. According to the survey, one in
three Americans (32 percent) has had a surgical procedure within
the past five years; one of two (51 percent) has bought or leased a
new car; and three of five (62 percent) have spent more than $1,000
on something for their home (furniture, home entertainment, and so
on). And while surgical patients spend an average of just one hour
researching their surgical procedure or their surgeon, they spend
significantly more time researching any of the following: --
Changing jobs (10 hours) -- Buying/leasing a new car (Eight hours)
-- Buying a big ticket item for their home >= $1,000 (Five
hours) -- Planning a vacation >= $1,000 (Four hours) Even more
shocking, more than one-third of Americans who had an operation in
the last five years (36 percent) did not check their surgeons'
credentials before having the procedure. "Being an informed
consumer is important, but being an informed patient is even more
so. A surgical procedure should not be something that is done to
you while you passively sit by --- patients should know that they
can improve their odds for a good outcome if they do their homework
upfront --- just as they do when they're buying a car, researching
a vacation, or purchasing a house," said Dr. Russell. "This book
provides patients with the basic strategies and information
necessary to help them gain peace of mind about how to prepare and
what to expect when they have an operation." "I Need An
Operation... Now What? is not only practical, but also highly
respectful and educational. Patients can use this book to navigate
through their surgical experience while we all push for a better
organized health care delivery system," said Richard J.
Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital
Association. "Most importantly, this book urges you, the patient,
to take control and become fully informed about your options,"
added Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on
Health. More information on I Need an Operation... Now What? A
Patient's Guide to a Safe and Successful Outcome, which is
published by Thomson Healthcare and the American College of
Surgeons, is available in an electronic press kit at
http://www.acspresskit.org/. The book is also available for
purchase at retail outlets and Web retailers nationwide, and from
the American College of Surgeons' Web site at
http://www.facs.org/public_info/patientguidebook.html. (Potential
Sidebar) 10 Questions Surgical Patients Should Ask: -- Is this
operation absolutely necessary, and what could happen to me if I
choose to forego it? -- What are the likely long-term effects of
this procedure? -- Are you board certified in the surgical
procedure you'll be performing on me? -- Do you perform this
procedure on a regular basis? -- Do you plan to do this procedure
in a hospital or in your office? -- How do other patients with
health factors and surgical needs such as mine fare under your
care? -- What are the potential complications I could face, and are
you prepared to handle them? -- What is the risk of infection? --
Could I die? -- What is my role as I recover from this procedure?
About the "On the Table" Survey Commissioned by the American
College of Surgeons, the nationwide telephone survey of 1,003
registered voters was conducted by KRC Research from January 2 -
10, 2008, to gauge public opinions on surgery preparedness. The
survey's weighted margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.1% at the 95%
confidence level. About the American College of Surgeons The
American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational
organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the
standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the
surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and
competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly
influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have
established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients.
The College has more than 72,000 members and is the largest
organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit
http://www.facs.org/. About Thomson Healthcare Thomson Healthcare
is the leading provider of decision support solutions that help
organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and
business performance. Thomson Healthcare products and services help
clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, government
agencies, and pharmaceutical companies manage the cost and improve
the quality of healthcare. Thomson Healthcare is a part of The
Thomson Corporation, a provider of value-added information,
software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of
healthcare, law, tax, accounting, scientific research, and
financial services. The Corporation's common shares are listed on
the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). For
more information, visit (http://www.thomsonhealthcare.com/).
DATASOURCE: American College of Surgeons CONTACT: Sally Garneski of
the American College of Surgeons, +1-312-202-5409; or Barb
Hemberger, +1-952-346-62322, , for the American College of Surgeons
Web Site: http://www.facs.org/ http://www.thomsonhealthcare.com/
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