Patient’s perspective during surgical and/or diagnostic procedures performed in day surgery in breast cancer patient. Psychological implications and care pathway quality assessment with a specific questionnaire and a quality score

Abstract

For much interventions and diagnostic procedures Day Surgery is the ideal therapeutic approach from the point of view of care effectiveness and patient satisfaction. Recently, special attention has been paid to the psychological aspects related to surgical and diagnostic procedures performed in Day Surgery, especially in cancer patient.In this work we evaluated the efficacy of a questionnaire investigating the entire care pathway of women undergoing surgery or diagnostic procedures in Day Surgery for diagnosed or suspected malignant breast disease. In the questionnaire formulation particular interest has been gave to the doctor-patient relationship psychological aspects and to the surgical procedure elements strongly influencing patient satisfaction and having the greatest impact in perioperative anxiety. The care pathway quality assessment has been completed by the proposal of a specific quality score.