Wouter Leclercq

Chapter 6 98 RESULTS Between March and October of 2015, a total of 41 consultations, conducted by 25 different plastic surgeons and residents, were included in the study (Table 6.1). Table 6.1 Consultation characteristics. Patient (n=41) Median age in years (range) 62 (46–85) Male 29 (71%) Education level* Low 1 (2%) Intermediate 28 (68%) High 11 (27%) Competent in Dutch language 41 Doctors (n=25) Median age in years (range) 34 (30–61) Male** 14 (56%) Function Plastic surgeon 11 (44%) Resident 14 (56%) *Educational levels included low (none or primary school), intermediate (completed high school or vocational education), and high (completed pre-university education or university). One patient refused to share his level of education, **Male doctors conducted a total of 24 consultations (59%) Within these consultations, an inconsistency was found concerning the number and choice of consultation items that were discussed. This inconsistency can be deduced from the irregular distribution of black rectangles in the overview of scored checklist items per consultation (Table 6.2). The information categories that were less often discussed were treatment risks, postoperative period, and operating surgeon. These had the lowest mean percentage of the discussed information items, respectively: 44%, 33%, and 18% (Table 6.2). In 90% of the consultations, the patient chart contained documentation about the SIC. In 59% of consultations, the written documentation of SIC contained in the patient charts stated that certain information had been discussed, while the audio recordings of the verbal exchange did not confirm these claims. In six of these consultations, five or more information items were erroneously described as having been discussed (Table 6.2).