Arch Plast Surg.  2013 Jul;40(4):414-424. 10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.414.

Personal Factors that Affect the Satisfaction of Female Patients Undergoing Esthetic Suture after Typical Thyroidectomy

• Kim HY
• Kim JW
• Park JH
• Kim JH
• Han YS

• KMID: 2167897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.414

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In esthetic surgery, understanding the factors that influence patient satisfaction is important for successful practice. We hypothesize that the factors that influence patient satisfaction include not only aesthetic and functional outcomes, but also personal factors such as the level of familiarity with factors affecting wound healing and expectations regarding aesthetic outcome.
METHODS
One hundred patients who underwent esthetic closure after thyroidectomy were included in this study. In order to evaluate the individual characteristics of the patients, a preoperative survey was administered to the patients. We estimated the patient satisfaction six months postoperatively and assessed the aesthetic and functional outcomes using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale.
RESULTS
According to the results of correlation analysis, level of familiarity with wound healing factors had a positive correlation with satisfaction. High expectations, pain, itching, and high observer scale score had negative correlations with satisfaction. The factors that were correlated with satisfaction were included in the multiple regression analysis. Level of familiarity with wound healing factors was found to have a positive relationship with satisfaction, while itching and observer scale were found to have a negative relationship with satisfaction. After excluding 10 patients who had hypertrophic scars, only level of familiarity with wound healing factors and expectations affected satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
The level of familiarity with factors affecting wound healing and expectations were found to independently affect satisfaction. Improving patients' level of familiarity with wound healing factors and reducing their expectations by providing suitable preoperative education has the potential to improve patient satisfaction.

Keyword

Personal satisfaction; Esthetics; Surgery, plastic

MeSH Terms

Cicatrix
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic
Esthetics
Female
Humans
Patient Satisfaction
Personal Satisfaction
Pruritus
Recognition (Psychology)
Surgery, Plastic
Sutures
Thyroidectomy
Wound Healing