Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Patients' perceptions of brain health after surgery: a mixed-methods study of perioperative risk communication in older surgical patients in New Zealand
Authors' conclusion
Many participants did not know the risks of major perioperative complications but based their risk perception on previous experiences and trust in health professionals. Participants focused on hope more than their concerns.
Study context
- Population
- Adult patients undergoing noncardiac, non-neurologic surgery, New Zealandsurveys returned completed
- Participants
- 547 patients
- Outcome
- Extreme level of concern for major postoperative complications
Methodological details13-item survey, thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, 88% of respondents had previously undergone surgery
- 13-item survey
- Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews
- 88% of respondents had previously undergone surgery
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Major stroke
64%
Heart attack
56%
Minor stroke
46%
Cognitive decline
43%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher level of concern for cognitive decline, women vs men | 1.6 (1.1–2.4) | P = 0.015 | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Interview themes (17 interviewed)
- Trust in healthcare professionals
- Surgery to achieve hopes and ambitions
- Previous experiences govern expectations and perception of risk
- Positive outlook and spirituality as protective factors
- Support matters
- A personalised approach to risk discussion
Original publication
Patients' perceptions of brain health after surgery: a mixed-methods study of perioperative risk communication in older surgical patients in New Zealand. Br J Anaesth. Published 1 February 2025. doi:10.
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