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Can a rheumatologist be a procedural specialist? The experience of an Australian rheumatologist
Author(s) -
SMITH Malcolm D
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-185x.2008.00345.x
Subject(s) - medicine , likert scale , patient satisfaction , physical therapy , surgery , mathematics , statistics
Abstract Aim: To describe the operating theatre‐based procedural experience of a rheumatologist in a teaching hospital environment and patient satisfaction with the procedures offered. Methods: All patients who underwent operating theatre‐based procedures by the author were surveyed by postal questionnaire asking about their satisfaction with the procedures performed (graded on a five‐point Likert scale) and how long the benefits from the procedures lasted. Results: Patient satisfaction with organization of the procedures varied from a mean of 4.7–4.9, patient satisfaction with the procedure ranged from 4.3 to 4.7 and likelihood of having the procedure again if medically indicated ranged from 3.9 to 4.3. For the manipulation under anaesthetic shoulder group, the benefit occurred within a mean of 7.4 days (range: 2–18) and lasted for a mean of 12.3 months (range: 1–24) with five patients still having an ongoing benefit from the procedure at the time of the survey. For the multiple small joint injections group, the benefit occurred within 3.7 (0–14) days and lasted for 8.1 (0–36) months with six patients still having an ongoing benefit from the procedure at the time of the survey. For the arthroscopy group, the benefit occurred within 7.4 (0–28) days and lasted for 15.6 (0–60) months with 10 patients still having an ongoing benefit from the procedure at the time of the survey. Conclusion: A rheumatologist can provide a limited range of procedures in an operating theatre environment with a high level of patient satisfaction.