Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST R0x5LCjZ. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Study objective-To assess the benefit of planned specialist follow up appointments after elective inpatient surgery. Design-This was a controlled trial, using repeated alternate allocation of time periods to the two study groups. Group 1 : Planned outpatient follow up 6-12 weeks after surgery. Group 2 : No planned follow up : additional written information for patients and general practitioners. Setting-A district general hospital in the north west of England. Participants-264 patients listed for one of : transurethral resection of the prostate, varicose vein surgery, cholecystectomy (open or laparoscopic), inguinal herniorraphy (open or laparoscopic). Main outcome measures-Health status, complications, return to normal activity, patient satisfaction, use and costs of primary and secondary care in the 12 weeks after surgery. Main results-Data were available for 212 (80%) of eligible patients. Thirty eight per cent of patients in the "no planned follow up" group were in fact seen in outpatients after their discharge. Intention to treat analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the groups for health status, complications, or time to return to normal activity. Patients in the "no planned follow up" group had significantly fewer hospital visits and costs (mean difference in visits 0.51,95% confidence intervals 0.39 to 0.69 ; mean difference in hospital costs 12.75, 9.75 to 15.50). (...)
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