Video, Telephone or Face-to-face Surgical Consultations: a Survey of Patients' and Surgeons' Views

Video, Telephone or Face-to-face Surgical Consultations: a Survey of Patients' and Surgeons' Views

This study will send out questionnaires to surgical outpatients and surgeons to gather their views on the appropriate type of surgical outpatient consultation in different clinical scenarios, in order to establish a guideline for surgical outpatient planning.

As above - this study will send out questionnaires to surgical outpatients and surgeons to gather their views on the appropriate type of surgical outpatient consultation in different clinical scenarios, in order to establish a guideline for surgical outpatient planning.

Inclusion Criteria:

PATIENTS

Adults attending general surgical outpatients in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary during the study period presenting with:

• lumps and bumps
• hernias
• biliary problems
• jaundice
• abdominal pain/mass/weight loss
• gastro-oesophageal reflux
• dysphagia
• change in bowel habit
• anorectal problems
• thyroid nodules
• parathyroid disease
• adrenal masses

SURGEONS

Consultant General Surgeons in NHS Grampian / Tayside and Highlands

Exclusion Criteria:

PATIENTS

• lacking capacity
• without language skills to answer questionnaires or ability to understand questionnaires
• children < 16yrs (No upper age limit)
• patients presenting as emergencies
• patients unwilling to complete questionnaires.

SURGEONS

- trainee surgeons.