The acceptability of waiting times for elective general surgery and the appropriateness of prioritising patients

Table 1 The characteristics and their levels used to construct the vignettes of patients.

Characteristic		Level	Content
	Varicose veins	1	dislikes cosmetic appearance of varicose veins
		2	suffers occasionally from a feeling of heaviness in the leg
		3	suffers often from a feeling of heaviness and pain in the leg
Physical symptoms*	Inguinal hernia	1	a visible swelling during straining activities but no pain
		2	a nagging pain, occasionally
		3	continuous nagging sensations but also often severe pain
	Gallstones	1	less than 1 colic attack per month
		2	1 to 2 colic attacks per month
		3	2 colic attacks per week
Psychological distress		1	not worried
		2	somewhat worried about the symptoms and what might happen while waiting
		3	highly worried about the symptoms and what might happen while waiting
Social limitations		1	no limitations during usual social activities
		2	some limitations during usual social activities
		3	not able to perform usual social activities
Impairments in work		1	still able to work fully
		2	has to skip work partially (partially on sick leave)
		3	not able to perform job anymore

ISSN: 1472-6963