Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40098263›Full record

ArticleJournal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale

"My Quality of Life is Not There. I'm Dying Here. I Cannot Take This Anymore." Exploring Patient Experiences With Surgical Wait Times in Otolaryngology: A Mixed Methods Study.

Shelley Vanderhout, Shipra Taneja, Amr Hamour, Eric Monterio, Janet Chung

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shelley VanderhoutInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6328-2680
Shipra TanejaInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Amr HamourDivision of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Eric MonterioDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Janet ChungInstitute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BackgroundNew patient referral models are needed to reduce long wait times for otolaryngology surgical procedures, such as a Single-Entry Model (SEM). However, patient perspectives about SEM in otolaryngology remain unexplored.MethodsIn this mixed methods study, a retrospective chart review was conducted to examine the times from referral to consultation (T1) and from consent to surgery (T2) for all elective otolaryngology surgical procedures at a large community hospital between 2020 and 2023. We then conducted journey mapping interviews with 10 patients and parents of pediatric patients who underwent otolaryngologic surgeries to understand their experiences of waiting for their own or their child's procedure, and perspectives on how an SEM might impact patient experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified that average wait times among 2414 elective (oncologic and non-oncologic) otolaryngology procedures often exceeded provincial target wait times. On average, oncology procedures had the shortest wait times (T1: 34 ± 47; T2: 101 ± 161 days), and otologic procedures had the longest (T1: 67 + 72; T2: 355 ± 285 days). While patients often did not wait as long to have a consultation with their surgeon, the time between consenting to and receiving surgery tended to drive wait time duration. Patients who had endured extended wait times experienced poor quality of life, worsening symptoms, and often worried about how long they would need to wait. Systems such as an SEM that could shorten wait times were generally well-perceived. However, patients emphasized the importance of trusting relationships with referring physicians and surgeons, which could be an enabling factor for implementing an SEM.ConclusionLong surgical wait times in otolaryngology are negatively impacting patients. A SEM could offer a way to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Indexed as

Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical ProceduresQuality of LifeTime-to-TreatmentWaiting ListsAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolElective Surgical ProceduresFemaleHumansMaleReferral and ConsultationRetrospective StudiesTime Factorsclinical researchhealth servicespediatricsquality improvementquality of life

Identifiers

PMID40098263
PMCPMC11915293

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.