The effect of a hospital-based counseling service on the physical recovery of surgical and medical patients.

This study evaluated the effects of a hospital-based counseling service on the physical recovery of surgical and medical patients. Their recovery was measured in terms of days on antibiotics, days to return to normal temperature, normal pulse and oral intake, and days on intravenous (IV) feeding. The effects of the sex, age, seriousness of physical problem, recovery rate, and digestive vs. genital system involvement of patients on these recovery measures were also monitored. Seriousness of physical problem proved to be the best predictor of patient recovery but, when its effects were controlled for, some beneficial effects of the counseling were observed.