PrepTAB aims to determine whether elderly patients are able to complete 4 preoperative risk assessment questionnaires within a web-based survey.

Elderly patients are the most rapidly increasing group among surgical admissions. They are prone to a higher risk, because of predisposing risk factors. A comprehensive preoperative risk assessment is recommended by the European Society of Anaesthesiologists guideline, but time-consuming and usually not performed at present. A telemedical approach would enable an out-of hospital risk assessment before hospital admission and provide important information without the need for additional in-hospital resources. The feasibility of the completion of a web-based questionnaire by elderly patients, within a controlled in-hospital setting is required, as a base for a telemedical approach.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Legally competent patients
• Written informed consent
• Age ≥ 65, male, female, diverse
• Multimorbid patients (≥ 2 comorbidities (according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index)
• Major elective surgery (such as total abdominal hysterectomy, endoscopic resection of prostate, lumbar discectomy, thyroidectomy, total joint replacement, lung operations, colon resection, radical neck dissection etc.)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Blind or deaf patients
• Patient/ Proxy not able to use electronic devices e.g. computer, tablet or smart phone
• Non-fluency in local language
• Alcohol and/ or drugs abuse
• Ambulatory surgery
• Repeated surgery, with previous participation
• Patients with severe neurological or psychiatric disorder
• Refusal of study participation by the patient

A convenient sample of patients, meeting all inclusion and none exclusion criteria, will be enrolled in the study. The patients will be recruited from the anaesthesia ambulance in the University hospital RWTH Aachen, where they have an appointment with the anaesthetist before their planned surgery.