Physician Patient Preferences in Hysterectomy. Abstract, Executive Summary andFinal Report

摘要

With over a half a million performed each year in the United States, hysterectomyis now considered the second most common surgery performed in women. Despite the staggering number performed, there are gaps in our knowledge base regarding (1) patient needs and preferences (2) physicians' interpretation of clinical indications when recommending hysterectomy or alternative medical therapies and most importantly (3) how these two factors converge to influence the decisions associated with hysterectomy. In this study, physician and patient focus groups were held to explore the perceived factors influencing decision making in hysterectomy. Identified themes from the focus groups include: a two-tiered hysterectomy decision making process; specific physician and patient characteristics that influence the shared decision making process as well as a need for additional outcomes data in the areas of sexual functioning post-hysterectomy and recovery process differences among the three surgical route of hysterectomy.