Factors associated with waiting time for surgery

Abstract

Objective To explore the factors associated with waiting times for surgery in public hospitals. Setting Three major acute care public hospitals in one Area Health Service. Participants 691 adult patients entered onto the computerised booking list between 16 and 22 November 1994, and then between 16 January and 12 February 1995, were interviewed prospectively and followed up over a minimum of 18 months. Data were obtained from the Area Health Service's computerised booking system and patient self‐report. Results Relevant surgical specialty, urgency rating, employment status and health insurance status were significantly associated with waiting time. Age, hospital, sex, country of birth, education, marital status and holding a Health Care Card were not significantly associated with waiting time. Self‐reported health status (as measured by the SF‐36) was not associated with waiting time for surgery. Conclusions Waiting time for surgery was not simply determined by how urgently patients need surgery, but also by the type of surgery needed and patient's employment and health insurance status. The extent of disability experienced by patients, as measured by the SF‐36, was not reflected in waiting times for surgery.

Clinical categorization for elective surgery in Victoria

“…The relationship between severity of illness and waiting time for elective surgery has previously been shown to be tenuous 6−8 . A study conducted in an area health service in New South Wales has shown that although waiting time was strongly associated with the urgency rating given by the surgeon 7 a number of other factors − surgical specialty, health insurance status and employment status − appeared to exert an additional and independent influence on waiting time. Informal guidelines for prioritizing urgency of surgery have existed for some years but none has gained national acceptance.…”

Prioritizing patients for elective surgery: Clinical judgement summarized by a Linear Analogue Scale

“…Clover et al . used a similar approach to look at urgency rating's effect on waiting in Australia 11 . There is a need for research that is outcome related 12 − research that not only looks at how people get on the ‘list’ but also the impact of waiting and how they get off the ‘list’.…”

Prioritization of cataract surgery: Visual analogue scale versus scoring system

“…In recent years, lengthening of waiting lists for elective surgery and medical procedures has become a common feature in most publicly funded health‐care systems worldwide 1−5 . The major contributing factors to the existence of waiting lists include the discrepancy between demand and supply of medical services in which access to health care is free, ageing of the population, and the availability of new technology and treatments 4,6 .…”