Need for Preoperative Information in Patients Undergoing Surgery in the Otorhinolaryngology Department

Aim: To determine the information needs of patients in the preoperative period attending the otorhinolaryngology service at the National Hospital Arzobispo Loayza in Lima, Peru.

Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 127 surgical patients from the otorhinolaryngology service. A questionnaire was used to assess patients’ information demands and their knowledge regarding their right to decide on surgery; it included questions related to the description of the surgical technique, complications, and risks associated with the surgery. A non-probabilistic convenience sample was used, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. The chi-square test was employed to evaluate the correlation between variables.

Results: A total of 127 patients participated, with more than 75% wanting more information about their condition and surgical treatment. 90% expressed a desire for an explanation of how the surgery would be performed, while 85% needed to know about common complications. Additionally, 20% preferred to ignore information about the possibility of death. Young adults and those with higher education demanded more information (p<0.05). No significant differences were found regarding sex, except in the need to know the risk of death due to surgery, which favored females (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Most patients require detailed information during the preoperative evaluation, especially among young adults and those with higher education. Physicians must provide sufficient, clear information with realistic expectations, respecting the patient’s autonomy in decision-making.