Last update:
   17-Mar-2007
 

Arch Hellen Med, 23(5), September-October 2006, 496-500

ORIGINAL PAPER

Day surgery - Perspectives: Views and attitudes of Greek NHS physicians

M. ARVANITI,1 P. TSITSOPOULOS,1 P. SARAFIS,2 D. NIAKAS3
 1Department of Neurosurgery, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Elefsina, Athens,
2Navy Hospital of Athens, Athens,
3Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece

OBJECTIVE This study explores the views of doctors regarding the advantages and benefits of one day surgical clinic procedures and their intention to support the application in clinical practice.

METHOD One hundred and seventy four consultants in surgery from four large hospitals in Athens participated in the survey completing a specially designed questionnaire.

RESULTS The vast majority of surgeons (n=165, 94.8%) expressed their intention to support the organization and operation of one-day surgery procedures. Most reported that one-day surgery would be more beneficial for financial reasons (from both the hospital and the patients' perspective) compared to clinical outcomes. Several socio-demographic factors were found to be associated with the study outcomes.

CONCULSIONS The results show that one-day surgery clinics could be developed more extensively in the hospitals of the Greek National Health Service.

Key words: Costs, Day surgery, Physicians' attitudes, Quality.

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