Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41294300›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American Geriatrics Society2026

Learning How Preoperative Communication Relates to Postoperative Experiences for Older Veterans Having Inguinal Hernia Surgery.

Melissa A Thornton, Elisa L Marten, Nicole Lunardi, Don Mai, Cameron Macdonald, Jocelyn G Baker, Ava Hitzeman, Celette Sugg Skinner, Cynthia J Brown, Miles Berger and 7 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

17 authors.

Melissa A ThorntonDepartment of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-9638-4266
Elisa L MartenWisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Nicole LunardiDepartment of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Don MaiWilliam S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Cameron MacdonaldQualitative Health Research Consultants, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Jocelyn G BakerQualitative Health Research Consultants, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Ava HitzemanQualitative Health Research Consultants, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Celette Sugg SkinnerPeter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Cynthia J BrownDepartment of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1629-5507
Miles BergerDepartment of Anesthesiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Simon Craddock LeeDepartment of Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6345-1237
C Munro CullumDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Konstantinos I MakrisDepartment of Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Thai H PhamDepartment of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Aanand NaikDivision of Geriatric Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6936-7984
Victoria TangDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Courtney J BalentineWisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Funding

A Pilot Study of Local Anesthesia for Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Older AdultsK76AG068515 · NIA · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · PI BALENTINE, COURTNEY J · 2021 to 2024
$939k
AHRQ HHS HS029874AHRQ HHS R01 HS029874NIA NIH HHS K76 AG068515NIA NIH HHS K76AG068515
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor older adults to decide whether inguinal hernia repair will meaningfully improve their lives, it is critical to (1) understand how the operation affects them and whether it enhances outcomes that matter to them, and (2) identify ways to improve how surgeons discuss the benefits of surgery and how they prepare older adults for postoperative recovery.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 Veterans ≥ 65 years old who had inguinal hernia repair at two high-volume Veterans Affairs hospitals.

resultsParticipants were all men; their mean age was 73 years, 65% were White, and 33% were Black. Older adults felt that the surgical team provided excellent reassurance regarding the safety and efficacy of surgery but expressed a desire for improved listening during preoperative counseling and for clearer communication regarding the reality of postoperative recovery. Veterans reported a return to baseline physical and cognitive function between 2 days and 6 weeks after surgery, though two Veterans experienced significant short-term cognitive dysfunction. Those who reported dissatisfaction with preoperative communication were more likely to be surprised or concerned about postoperative symptoms.

conclusionsOur study provides critical information on how hernia repair affects the lives of older adults, and this can be used to better prepare the patients for surgery and to help them decide whether surgery will meaningfully enhance their quality of life.

Indexed as

CommunicationHernia, InguinalHerniorrhaphyPhysician-Patient RelationsPreoperative CareVeteransAgedAged, 80 and overHumansInterviews as TopicMalePatient SatisfactionPostoperative ComplicationsUnited Stateshernia surgerypostoperative recoveryqualitative researchsurgery experienceveteran

Identifiers

PMID41294300
PMCPMC13527829

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Registered trials

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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.