Study, year | Design | Setting | Population | Data collection periods | n | Intervention / comparator | Outcomes measured |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historically controlled trial | Otolaryngology department; UK hospital | Patients undergoing nasal septal surgery | Dec 2000 to Jan 2002 | 75 | Telephone call with ENT nurse six weeks after surgery using standardised protocol | Patient satisfaction with follow-up | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Direct costs |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Indirect costs |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Total costs of follow-up |
 |  |  | mean age 42 years; 76% male | Jan 1999 to Dec 2000 | 78 | Clinic appointment with surgeon (time not specified) |  |
Sittitavornwong, 2005 [21] | RCT | Oral and maxillofacial surgery department, US University | Patients undergoing third molar removal performed under general anaesthetic | Not reported | 23 | Telephone call at two weeks after surgery using a questionnaire | Patient satisfaction with follow-up |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Post-operative morbidity |
 |  |  | mean age 20 years; 38% male |  | 25 | Clinic appointment at two weeks | Incidence of post-operative help |
Susarla, 2011 [22] | Retrospective cohort | Oral and maxillofacial surgery department in a tertiary referral centre, US | Patients undergoing tooth extraction in an ambulatory setting | July 2007 to June 2009 | 155 | Telephone call with surgeon five to 10Â days after surgery using a standardised proforma | Frequency of intra-operative or postoperative complication |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Compliance with follow-up |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Patient satisfaction with follow-up |
 |  |  | mean age 28.6 years; 39% male |  | 209 | Clinic appointment with surgeon seven to 10 days after surgery | No. of post-operative visits |
Mandal, 2004 [23] | Prospective cohort | Eye infirmary; UK hospital | Patients undergoing cataract surgery | Not reported | 100 | Home visit by ophthalmic nurse one day after surgery | Feelings of reassurance |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | Level of understanding of post-operative information |
 |  |  |  |  | 100 | Clinic appointment with ophthalmic nurse one day after surgery | Satisfaction with length of review |
 |  |  |  |  | 100 | Telephone call using a structured review form one day after surgery |  |