Telephone follow-up for cataract surgery: feasibility and patient satisfaction study

• Published in: International journal of health care quality assurance 2016-05, Vol.29 (4), p.407-416
• Main Authors: Hoffman, Jeremy J.S.L, Pelosini, Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cataracts; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Cost analysis; Eye surgery; Feasibility; Female; Health & social care; Health administration; Health service delivery; Health service quality; Health services; Hearing loss; High risk; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Nurses; Ophthalmology; Pain; Patient Satisfaction; Phacoemulsification - methods; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Quality control; Quality improvement; Quality of care; Questionnaires; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Standard deviation; Telephone; Visual acuity
• ISSN: 0952-6862; 1758-6542
• DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-08-2015-0096

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of telephone follow-up (TFU) after uncomplicated cataract surgery in low-risk patients and patient satisfaction with this alternative clinical pathway. Design/methodology/approach – Prospective, non-randomised cohort study. A ten-point subjective ophthalmic assessment questionnaire and a six-point patient satisfaction questionnaire were administered to patients following routine cataract surgery at two to three weeks post-procedure. All patients were offered a further clinic review if required. Exclusion criteria comprised ophthalmic co-morbidities, hearing/language impairment and high risk of post-operative complications. Patient notes were retrospectively reviewed over the study period to ensure no additional emergency attendances took place. Findings – Over three months, 50 eyes of 50 patients (mean age: 80; age range 60-91; 66 per cent second eye surgery) underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery received a TFU at 12-24 days (mean: 16 days) post-operatively. Subjective visual acuity was graded as good by 92 per cent of patients; 72 per cent patients reported no pain and 20 per cent reported mild occasional grittiness. Patient satisfaction was graded 8.9 out of 10; 81.6 per cent defined TFU as convenient and 75.5 per cent of patients preferred TFU to routine outpatient review. No additional visits were required. Research limitations/implications – Non-randomised with no control group; small sample size. One patient was unable to be contacted. Practical implications – Post-operative TFU can be suitably targeted to low-risk patients following uncomplicated cataract surgery. This study demonstrated a high patient satisfaction. A larger, randomised study is in progress to assess this further. Originality/value – This is the first study reporting TFU results and patient satisfaction to the usual alternative two-week outpatient review.