Scottish Inpatient Experience Survey 2016 Volume 1: National Results

Results - Operations and Procedures

Summary

Over half of the people who responded to the survey had an operation or procedure during their most recent stay in hospital. In general, people were mostly positive about the explanations provided before and after the operation or procedure with all showing a rise in positive ratings from 2014.

However results suggested that more could be done to prepare patients for how they could expect to feel after the operation or procedure has been completed.

Operations and procedures

Over half of respondents ( 54 per cent) had an operation or procedure during their most recent stay in hospital.

Good communication before and after surgery is essential. It assists patients in understanding the risks, benefits and possible outcomes of surgery and can assist in aiding recovery and adherence to medical treatment.

Those who indicated they had an operation or procedure were asked about the explanations staff provided before and after their surgery (Figure 21).

People who had surgery were most positive about the explanations given beforehand around surgery (Figure 21):

• around four out of five ( 81 per cent) indicated they were told 'completely' about the risks and benefits of surgery

• around four out of five ( 78 per cent) indicated 'yes completely' whether staff provided explanations about the operation itself, a rise of two percentage points from 2014

• over three out of four ( 76 per cent) indicated that their questions were answered in a way they could understand

One area where people were less positive was around explanations about how they would feel after the operation; around two out of three people ( 64 per cent) responded 'yes completely' to this question, a rise of three percentage points from 2014 (Figure 21).

Although it may be easier for staff to provide explanations about the mechanics and risks and benefits of the procedure, it is important to convey how patients might feel afterwards to prepare them for what to expect.

Figure 21 Summary of communication prior to and after operations and procedures (%)