Mitchell A Solano1, Kaaleswar K Ramcharran2, Lynne C Jones3, Robert S Sterling3, David R Samaroo2, Harpal S Khanuja3. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Georgetown Public Hospital, Georgetown, Guyana. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient knowledge about arthritis and risks, benefits, and outcomes of joint arthroplasty in developing countries is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of a preoperative class on improving knowledge and decreasing anxiety during a surgical mission trip offering total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: A team of US health care providers taught a preoperative class to 41 patients selected for total joint arthroplasty during a surgical mission trip to Guyana. Participants completed a 32-point survey about arthritis; indications, risks, and benefits of joint arthroplasty; and postoperative, in-patient rehabilitation expectations. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure participant anxiety. Participants completed identical surveys before and after class. Matched-pairs Student t tests were used to compare means between preclass and postclass surveys. Significance was accepted at P < .05. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of patients (31 of 41) scored less than 12 of 32 possible points (40%) on the preclass knowledge questionnaire. Mean ± standard deviation knowledge scores improved from 14.0 ± 4.5 before the class to 16.5 ± 6.5 after the class (P = .008). Anxiety scores (n = 33) improved from 35 ± 13 before the class to 33 ± 12 after the class (P = .047). CONCLUSION: On this surgical mission trip, underserved patients' knowledge about total joint arthroplasty increased only modestly after taking a preoperative class. Greater understanding of how to educate patients and reduce their anxiety on medical missions is needed.
BACKGROUND:Patient knowledge about arthritis and risks, benefits, and outcomes of joint arthroplasty in developing countries is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of a preoperative class on improving knowledge and decreasing anxiety during a surgical mission trip offering total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: A team of US health care providers taught a preoperative class to 41 patients selected for total joint arthroplasty during a surgical mission trip to Guyana. Participants completed a 32-point survey about arthritis; indications, risks, and benefits of joint arthroplasty; and postoperative, in-patient rehabilitation expectations. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure participantanxiety. Participants completed identical surveys before and after class. Matched-pairs Student t tests were used to compare means between preclass and postclass surveys. Significance was accepted at P < .05. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of patients (31 of 41) scored less than 12 of 32 possible points (40%) on the preclass knowledge questionnaire. Mean ± standard deviation knowledge scores improved from 14.0 ± 4.5 before the class to 16.5 ± 6.5 after the class (P = .008). Anxiety scores (n = 33) improved from 35 ± 13 before the class to 33 ± 12 after the class (P = .047). CONCLUSION: On this surgical mission trip, underserved patients' knowledge about total joint arthroplasty increased only modestly after taking a preoperative class. Greater understanding of how to educate patients and reduce their anxiety on medical missions is needed.