Does increased preoperative education for patients undergoing external fixation improve overall satisfaction?

Riassunto dello studio

97 patients with lower extremity fractures requiring temporary external fixation were randomized to receive enhanced preoperative education or standard preoperative education, with 89 patients included in the final analysis. The primary outcome of interest was patient satisfaction, assessed using a modified 21-item Leeds Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ). Outcomes included satisfaction with information provision, healthcare team technical competence, clinician attitude and empathy, and overall hospital care. Assessments were conducted within 48 hours postoperatively and at a subsequent follow-up appointment, with a mean interval of 29 days between surveys. Overall, the results of the study revealed no statistically significant improvement in overall patient satisfaction with enhanced education compared with standard education. However, enhanced education was associated with consistently higher minimum satisfaction scores across all domains. These findings suggested that a brief preoperative educational intervention did not significantly improve satisfaction but might help reduce negative patient experiences.