Systematic review and narrative description of the outcomes of group preoperative education before elective major surgery

Abstract

Background

Group preoperative education is becoming standard care for patients preparing for surgery, alongside optimisation of exercise, diet, and wellbeing. Although patient education is essential, the effectiveness of group education programmes or ‘surgery schools’ as a means of delivery is unclear. This review examines whether attending group preoperative education improves patient outcomes.

Methods

We systematically reviewed studies of group perioperative education before major elective surgery. Observational or intervention studies with a baseline group or control arm were included. All outcomes reported were collected and, where possible, effect estimates were summarised using random effects meta-analysis.

Results

Twenty-seven studies reported on 48 different outcomes after group education. Overall, there was a 0.7 (95% confidence interval 0.27–1.13) day reduction in mean length of stay. The odds ratio for postoperative complications after abdominal surgery was 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.36–0.85; nine studies). Patient-centred outcomes were grouped into themes. Most studies reported a benefit from group education, but only postoperative physical impairment, pain, knowledge, activation, preoperative anxiety, and some elements of quality of life were statistically significant.

Conclusion

This review presents a summary of published evidence available for group preoperative education. While these data lend support for such programmes, there is a need for adequately powered prospective studies to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative education on clinical outcomes and to evaluate whether behaviour change is sustained. Furthermore, the content, timing and mode of delivery, and evaluation measures of preoperative education require standardisation.

Systematic review protocol

PROSPERO (166297).