{"paper_id":"2edd19b1-78c3-43cf-b322-bb6445381b44","body_text":"Abstract\nStudy Objective\nDetermine if patient satisfaction is greater after delivering postoperative care via telemedicine following minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.\nDesign\nRandomized controlled trial\nSetting\nUniversity based outpatient clinic.\nPatients or Participants\nBetween 18 and 60 years of age scheduled to undergo laparoscopic hysterectomy or laparoscopic excision of endometriosis.\nInterventions\nEligible patients were randomized to receive postoperative care either through a traditional office visit or via telemedicine.\nMeasurements and Main Results\n41 patients were analyzed out of which 25 were allocated to the office group and 16 to the telemedicine group. Groups were homogenous to age (41.4 v 43.3 p.48), BMI (31.9 v 30.6 p=.52), distance in miles from home (12.7 v 12.4 p=.92) and parity (p=.51). PSQ-18 questionnaire was scored and each category was compared between the office and telemedicine groups. When comparing medians (IQR), the general satisfaction and time spent with doctor categories were significantly higher in the telemedicine group (4.0 (4.0, 4.5) v 4.5 (4.5, 5.0) p=.05), (4.0(4.0, 4.5) v 4.5(4.0, 5.0) p=.05). The remainder of the categories analyzed were not different between groups (Technical Quality (4.0 (3.8, 4.5) v 4.5 (3.9, 5.0) p=.13), Interpersonal Manner (4.0 (4.0, 4.5) v 4.5 (4.0, 5.0) p=.34), Communication (4.5 (4.0, 4.5) v 4.5 (4.3, 5.0) p=.21) and Accessibility and Convenience (4.0 (3.5, 4.5) v 4.0 (3.6, 4.5) p=.84)). A chart review was performed, examining the first 30 days after surgery. One (4%) patient in the office group visited the ER following the postoperative visit, and 0 in the telemedicine group (p=.42). Regarding phone calls to the clinic after postoperative visit, 5(20%) patients in the office group incurred in at least one call and 4(25%) did so in the telemedicine group (p=.92).\nConclusion\nPostoperative care via telemedicine after gynecologic surgery results in higher patient satisfaction, and does not appear to increase the risk of complications.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}