Effect of informational internet web pages on patients' decision-making: randomised controlled trial regarding choice of spinal or general anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery

Racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia in the United States: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic disparities exist in the delivery of regional anesthesia in the United States. Anesthesiologists have ethical and economic obligations to address existing disparities in regional anesthesia care.

OBJECTIVES

Current evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia utilization in adult patients in the United States is presented. Potential contributors and solutions to racial disparities are also discussed.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Literature search was performed for studies examining racial and ethnic disparities in utilization of regional anesthesia, including neuraxial anesthesia and/or peripheral nerve blocks.

FINDINGS

While minoritized patients are generally less likely to receive regional anesthesia than white patients, the pattern of disparities for different racial/ethnic groups and for types of regional anesthetics can be complex and varied. Contributors to racial/ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia span hospital, provider, and patient-level factors. Potential solutions include standardization of regional anesthetic practices via Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways, increasing patient education, health literacy, language translation services, and improving diversity and cultural competency in the anesthesiology workforce.

CONCLUSION

Racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia exist. Contributors and solutions to these disparities are multifaceted. Much work remains within the subspecialty of regional anesthesia to identify and address such disparities.

Description of the Content and Quality of Publicly Available Information on the Internet About Inhaled Volatile Anesthesia and Total Intravenous Anesthesia: Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND

More than 300 million patients undergo surgical procedures requiring anesthesia worldwide annually. There are 2 standard-of-care general anesthesia administration options: inhaled volatile anesthesia (INVA) and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). There is limited evidence comparing these methods and their impact on patient experiences and outcomes. Patients often seek this information from sources such as the internet. However, the majority of websites on anesthesia-related topics are not comprehensive, updated, and fully accurate. The quality and availability of web-based patient information about INVA and TIVA have not been sufficiently examined.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to (1) assess information on the internet about INVA and TIVA for availability, readability, accuracy, and quality and (2) identify high-quality websites that can be recommended to patients to assist in their anesthesia information-seeking and decision-making.

METHODS

Web-based searches were conducted using Google from April 2022 to November 2022. Websites were coded using a coding instrument developed based on the International Patient Decision Aids Standards criteria and adapted to be appropriate for assessing websites describing INVA and TIVA. Readability was calculated with the Flesch-Kincaid (F-K) grade level and the simple measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) readability formula.

RESULTS

A total of 67 websites containing 201 individual web pages were included for coding and analysis. Most of the websites provided a basic definition of general anesthesia (unconsciousness, n=57, 85%; analgesia, n=47, 70%). Around half of the websites described common side effects of general anesthesia, while fewer described the rare but serious adverse events, such as intraoperative awareness (n=31, 46%), allergic reactions or anaphylaxis (n=29, 43%), and malignant hyperthermia (n=18, 27%). Of the 67 websites, the median F-K grade level was 11.3 (IQR 9.5-12.8) and the median SMOG score was 13.5 (IQR 12.2-14.4), both far above the American Medical Association (AMA) recommended reading level of sixth grade. A total of 51 (76%) websites distinguished INVA versus TIVA as general anesthesia options. A total of 12 of the 51 (24%) websites explicitly stated that there is a decision to be considered about receiving INVA versus TIVA for general anesthesia. Only 10 (20%) websites made any direct comparisons between INVA and TIVA, discussing their positive and negative features. A total of 12 (24%) websites addressed the concept of shared decision-making in planning anesthesia care, but none specifically asked patients to think about which features of INVA and TIVA matter the most to them.

CONCLUSIONS

While the majority of websites described INVA and TIVA, few provided comparisons. There is a need for high-quality patient education and decision support about the choice of INVA versus TIVA to provide accurate and more comprehensive information in a format conducive to patient understanding.

A survey of anesthetic preference and preoperative anxiety in hip and knee arthroplasty patients: the utility of the outpatient preoperative anesthesia appointment

PURPOSE

The general public's perceptions of anesthesia and the risks associated with it may be skewed. The outpatient preoperative appointment with an anesthesiologist allows for patient education regarding different anesthetic options and counseling regarding anxiety related to anesthesia and surgery. This study investigates whether the preoperative appointment for hip and knee arthroplasty alters patient preference for general or spinal anesthesia and reduces patient anxiety.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty were administered two verbal questionnaires at the preoperative clinic. The first questionnaire was completed prior to meeting the anesthesiologist and addressed patient anesthetic preferences, previous anesthetic experiences, and perioperative anxiety and need for information using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). The second questionnaire was completed immediately following the appointment and addressed the patient's anesthetic preference, reasons for any preference changes, and anxiety levels and need for information using the APAIS. The clinic anesthesiologist was blinded to the nature of the study.

RESULTS

Following the clinic appointment, a significant decrease in patients wanting general anesthesia (from 48 to 18%, P < 0.001) and a significant increase in patients wanting spinal anesthesia (from 39 to 76%, 95%, P < 0.01) was noted. A significant decrease in overall anxiety and anxiety related to the patients' upcoming surgeries and need for information was also noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative anesthesia meeting serves an important role in educating patients regarding anesthesia, and can influence patients' choice of anesthetic while also reducing overall patient anxiety.

Web-Based Patient Education in Orthopedics: Systematic Review

Background

Patients with orthopedic conditions frequently use the internet to find health information. Patient education that is distributed online may form an easily accessible, time- and cost-effective alternative to education delivered through traditional channels such as one-on-one consultations or booklets. However, no systematic evidence for the comparative effectiveness of Web-based educational interventions exists.

Objective

The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effects of Web-based patient education interventions for adult orthopedic patients and to compare its effectiveness with generic health information websites and traditional forms of patient education.

Methods

CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PUBMED, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched covering the period from 1995 to 2016. Peer-reviewed English and Dutch studies were included if they delivered patient education via the internet to the adult orthopedic population and assessed its effects in a controlled or observational trial.

Results

A total of 10 trials reported in 14 studies involving 4172 patients were identified. Nine trials provided evidence for increased patients’ knowledge after Web-based patient education. Seven trials reported increased satisfaction and good evaluations of Web-based patient education. No compelling evidence exists for an effect of Web-based patient education on anxiety, health attitudes and behavior, or clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Web-based patient education may be offered as a time- and cost-effective alternative to current educational interventions when the objective is to improve patients’ knowledge and satisfaction. However, these findings may not be representative for the whole orthopedic patient population as most trials included considerably younger, higher-educated, and internet-savvy participants only.

Patients control preferences and results in knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Patient engagement in a patient-physician decision-making process has been correlated with satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Aim of this study is to evaluate if patient control preference may also influence TKA results.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-six patients (120w-56m, age 66 ± 9 years, BMI 28 ± 4) underwent TKA and were prospectively evaluated, before surgery and at 6 and 12 months. The preoperative assessment included the Control Preference Scale (CPS) and other scales measuring psychological aspects (STAI, BDI, TSK), as well as SF12 (physical and mental subscales) and the assessment of pain and function. Pain, function, and SF12 subscales were then used to evaluate the improvement at 6- and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Pain, function, and SF12 scores improved at 6 and 12 months. CPS correlated with the outcome: pain and functional improvement at 6 months (p = 0.014; p = 0.003, respectively), patient function at 6 months (p = 0.022), improvement of SF12 physical subscale at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.027; p = 0.037, respectively), and satisfaction at 6 months (p = 0.033). Moreover, the multivariate analysis confirmed the importance of CPS regardless of other demographic, physical or psychological characteristics.

CONCLUSION

In contrast with previous literature findings, this study shows that patients with more propensity for control presented lower improvements of pain and function than those more prone to rely on the physician making the decision. Physicians should be aware that the patient control preference may influence the treatment outcome and undertake measurements to optimize patient participation in the shared process to optimize the chances of TKA success.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Diagnosis of adverse events after hysterectomy with postoperative self-care web applications: A pilot study

Increased pressures from multiple sources are leading to earlier patient discharge following surgery. Our objective was to test the feasibility of self-care web applications to inform women if, when, and where to seek help for symptoms after hysterectomy. We asked 31 women recovering at home after hysterectomy at two centers to sign into a website on a schedule. For each session, the website informed them about normal postoperative symptoms and prompted them to complete an interactive symptom questionnaire that provided detailed information on flagged responses. We interviewed eight women who experienced an adverse event. Six of these women had used the web application regularly, each indicating they used the information to guide them in seeking care for their complications. These data support that self-care applications may empower patients to manage their own care and present to appropriate health care providers and venues when they experience abnormal symptoms.

Factors influencing the choice of anesthetic technique for primary hip and knee arthroplasty

Despite evidence in the literature, continuing wide variation exists in anesthetic technique for primary joint arthroplasties. Recent evidence suggests that neuraxial anesthesia has advantages over general anesthesia in terms of mortality, major morbidity and healthcare utilization. Yet, despite the proposed benefits, utilization of these two techniques varies greatly across geographical locations, with general anesthesia being most common for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in parts of the world. We uncover some factors that promote or hinder the use of neuraxial anesthesia in THA and TKA. Healthcare professionals should be familiarized with the evidence for neuraxial anesthesia, and unbiased educational material should be developed for patients regarding anesthetic options for THA and TKA in order to promote best practice.

Optimizing Patient Preparation and Surgical Experience Using eHealth Technology

With population growth and aging, it is expected that the demand for surgical services will increase. However, increased complexity of procedures, time pressures on staff, and the demand for a patient-centered approach continue to challenge a system characterized by finite health care resources. Suboptimal care is reported in each phase of surgical care, from the time of consent to discharge and long-term follow-up. Novel strategies are thus needed to address these challenges to produce effective and sustainable improvements in surgical care across the care pathway. The eHealth programs represent a potential strategy for improving the quality of care delivered across various phases of care, thereby improving patient outcomes. This discussion paper describes (1) the key functions of eHealth programs including information gathering, transfer, and exchange; (2) examples of eHealth programs in overcoming challenges to optimal surgical care across the care pathway; and (3) the potential challenges and future directions for implementing eHealth programs in this setting. The eHealth programs are a promising alternative for collecting patient-reported outcome data, providing access to credible health information and strategies to enable patients to take an active role in their own health care, and promote efficient communication between patients and health care providers. However, additional rigorous intervention studies examining the needs of potential role of eHealth programs in augmenting patients' preparation and recovery from surgery, and subsequent impact on patient outcomes and processes of care are needed to advance the field. Furthermore, evidence for the benefits of eHealth programs in supporting carers and strategies to maximize engagement from end users are needed.

Knowledge tests in patient education: a systematic review

This study describes knowledge tests in patient education through a systematic review of the Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases with the guidance of the PRISMA Statement. Forty-nine knowledge tests were identified. The contents were health-problem related, focusing on biophysiological and functional knowledge. The mean number of items was 20, with true-false or multiple-choice scales. Most of the tests were purposely designed for the studies included in the review. The most frequently reported quality assessments of knowledge tests were content validity and internal consistency. The outcome measurements for patient-education needs were comprehensive, validating knowledge tests that cover multidimensional aspects of knowledge. Besides the measurement of the outcomes of patient education, knowledge tests could be used for several purposes in patient education: to guide the content of education as checklists, to monitor the learning process, and as educational tools. There is a need for more efficient content and health problem-specific knowledge-test assessments.

Internet use frequency and patient-centered care: measuring patient preferences for participation using the health information wants questionnaire

Background

The Internet is bringing fundamental changes to medical practice through improved access to health information and participation in decision making. However, patient preferences for participation in health care vary greatly. Promoting patient-centered health care requires an understanding of the relationship between Internet use and a broader range of preferences for participation than previously measured.

Objective

To explore (1) whether there is a significant relationship between Internet use frequency and patients’ overall preferences for obtaining health information and decision-making autonomy, and (2) whether the relationships between Internet use frequency and information and decision-making preferences differ with respect to different aspects of health conditions.

Methods

The Health Information Wants Questionnaire (HIWQ) was administered to gather data about patients’ preferences for the (1) amount of information desired about different aspects of a health condition, and (2) level of decision-making autonomy desired across those same aspects.

Results

The study sample included 438 individuals: 226 undergraduates (mean age 20; SD 2.15) and 212 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 72; SD 9.00). A significant difference was found between the younger and older age groups’ Internet use frequencies, with the younger age group having significantly more frequent Internet use than the older age group (younger age group mean 5.98, SD 0.33; older age group mean 3.50, SD 2.00; t₄₃₆=17.42, P<.01). Internet use frequency was positively related to the overall preference rating (γ=.15, P<.05), suggesting that frequent Internet users preferred significantly more information and decision making than infrequent Internet users. The relationships between Internet use frequency and different types of preferences varied: compared with infrequent Internet users, frequent Internet users preferred more information but less decision making for diagnosis (γ=.57, P<.01); more information and more decision-making autonomy for laboratory test (γ=.15, P<.05), complementary and alternative medicine (γ=.32, P<.01), and self-care (γ=.15, P<.05); and less information but more decision-making autonomy for the psychosocial (γ=-.51, P<.01) and health care provider (γ=-.27, P<.05) aspects. No significant difference was found between frequent and infrequent Internet users in their preferences for treatment information and decision making.

Conclusions

Internet use frequency has a positive relationship with the overall preferences for obtaining health information and decision-making autonomy, but its relationship with different types of preferences varies. These findings have important implications for medical practice.

Evaluation of information available on the Internet regarding anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Searching the Internet is one of the most popular methods for acquiring information related to health. The Internet offers physicians and patients easy access to a wide range of medical material from anywhere in the world. For many patients, this information helps formulate decisions related to their health and health care. An important caveat is that virtually anything can be published on the Internet. Although academic publications require rigorous peer review, Internet websites have no regulatory body monitoring quality and content. With a lack of external regulation, the information retrieved may be incorrect or outdated. The Internet can be a valuable asset for educating patients, but because of significant variability physicians should be familiar with the quality of information available. This article discusses both the strengths and weaknesses of information available on the Internet regarding anterior cruciate ligament repair.

Internet use by orthopaedic outpatients - current trends and practices

BACKGROUND

The e-patient revolution increasingly enables patients to self diagnose and self educate, influencing decisions affecting their health. This poses a challenge for both patients and health care professionals due to the highly variable and often poor quality information available on the internet.

AIMS

This study aims to measure the current internet usage in patients attending outpatient clinics, in both a public and private setting. All patients were recruited whilst consulting orthopaedic surgeons.

METHOD

We developed a 29 question survey which asked questions related to patient demographics, general internet usage and internet usage related to the patient's orthopaedic condition. Patients were recruited for the public cohort during Western Health outpatient clinics and for the private cohort during private surgical consults in the waiting rooms of eight surgeons' clinics.

RESULTS

A total of 400 surveys were completed; 200 in both the private and public cohorts of the study. Of all surveyed participants, 79% (n = 316) had access to the internet. Of people who had access to the internet 65.2% (n = 206) used the internet to investigate their orthopaedic condition. 29.6% (n = 61) of participants asked their surgeon questions related to information they had read on the internet. Of patients that had access to the internet 36.1% (n = 114) used the internet to research their surgeon.

CONCLUSION

Patients are commonly using the internet as an information resource, in spite of the highly variable quality of this information. This highlights the need for patient information websites which reflect the current standards of clinical practice.

Patient preference for coronary artery bypass graft surgery performed on the arrested or beating heart: a questionnaire study

OBJECTIVE

Patient choice is now a major facet of health-care policy within the National Health Service. Our objective was to determine whether the patient would like to choose if the 'beating heart' technique or the 'arrested heart' technique is employed for their coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

METHODS

We undertook a cross-sectional, self-reported questionnaire survey of patients referred to a regional cardiac surgical unit for elective coronary artery surgery between October 2008 and July 2009. The questionnaire was split into five sections as follows: (1) the patients' awareness of 'beating heart' and 'arrested heart' techniques for CABG surgery, (2) an information sheet detailing both techniques, (3) patients' preference of technique to be used for CABG surgery, (4) whether the patient would like to choose their surgeon according to the surgeons' preferred technique and (5) demographics, including age, sex, and educational qualifications. Data are expressed as counts (percentages).

RESULTS

The questionnaire was sent to 120 people; 88 returned a completed questionnaire, representing a response rate of 73%. Awareness of 'beating heart' and 'arrested heart' techniques for CABG surgery was reported by 35 respondents (40%). Of these, 74% respondents had no preference of technique used for CABG surgery. After reading the information sheet, 78 (89%) respondents reported no preference of technique used for CABG surgery. As many as 71 (81%) respondents reported that they did not want to be given an opportunity to choose the technique used for CABG surgery, and all respondents preferred to let the surgeon decide the appropriate technique. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age and level of education were not significant predictors of whether patients wanted to choose the technique to be used for their CABG surgery.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac surgical patients prefer to allow the surgeon to determine the technique to be used for their coronary artery operation and do not want to be offered the chance to choose their surgeon according to the surgeons' preferred technique. Involvement of the patient in determining the operative technique is not always desired.