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Patients' surgery decisions are based on physicians' preferences

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, March 27, 2007

Patients' surgery decisions are based on physicians' preferences

Although most patients are involved in choosing where they have major surgery, many leave the decision entirely to their physician, according to the results of a new study published in the March issue of Archives of Surgery.

According to the study, 31% of patients structured their decision on where to have major surgery primarily around what their physicians suggested. Twenty-two percent of patients felt they were in control of this decision, and only 5% of patients reported that their family members were deciding factors. Forty-two percent felt that their personal decision and their physician's decision combined mattered.

Through this study, researchers attempted to show that patients aren't always included in their choice on where to have surgery, despite efforts to inform patients with hospital performance data.

Five hundred Medicare patients were contacted randomly via telephone interview for this study. Each patient underwent a high-risk operation, such as heart valve replacement or abdominal aneurysm repair (out of five major surgeries selected) roughly three years prior to the survey.

To view an abstract of the study, click here.

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