Acceptability of Waiting Times for Elective Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Oudhoff Jurriaan P, Timmermans Danielle RM, Rietberg Martin, Knol Dirk L, van der Wal Gerrit
Primary Institution: Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
What are the views of different stakeholders on the acceptability of waiting lists and prioritization for elective surgery?
Conclusion
Participants generally support prioritizing patients based on clinical need, but there is disagreement on the criteria for prioritization and the acceptability of non-clinical factors.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants endorsed prioritization based on clinical need.
- Acceptable waiting times varied significantly based on the type of disorder.
- Surgeons preferred individual decision-making for prioritization.
- Patients showed less acceptance of waiting lists compared to healthcare professionals.
- Disagreement exists on the use of non-clinical factors for prioritization.
Takeaway
People have different opinions about how long patients should wait for surgery, and they think it's important to prioritize based on how much someone needs the surgery.
Methodology
A questionnaire survey was conducted among patients and healthcare professionals to assess their views on waiting times and prioritization.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to differing levels of engagement with waiting lists among respondents.
Limitations
Response rates among GPs and OPs were lower, which may affect representativeness.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 257 former patients, 101 surgeons, 95 occupational physicians, and 65 general practitioners.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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