The impact of a preoperative information leaflet on expectation management, satisfaction and patient outcomes in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy

Background: This study examined the effects of a patient information leaflet on outcomes related to patient satisfaction following knee arthroscopy.

Methods: Cohort study of patients listed for knee arthroscopy under the care of a single surgeon over a nine-month period (May2017–January 2018) following the introduction of an information leaflet as an adjunct to the consent process. Outcome data was collected post operatively through telephone follow-up. Outcome measures included feelings of involvement with decision-making, expectations being met, satisfaction, postoperative pain numerical rating scales and the Forgotten Joint Score-12.

Results: Fifty-five patients were consented by the operating surgeon, of which 28 (50.9%) received a leaflet and 27 (49.1%) did not. Patients who received the information leaflet felt more involved in and informed about the decision to have an operation than patients who did not (p = 0.016),however there were no differences in any other outcomes between patients who did and did not receive a leaflet (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The use of an information leaflet as an adjunct to the preoperative consultation is an effective way of helping patients feel more involved in the surgical decision-making process, however this does not influence overall outcome or satisfaction metrics.