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Impact of disclosure of radiographic test results on quality of life among patients with hernias: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

Hernias noted on radiographic imaging are common. We aimed to determine if informing patients of the presence of a clinically apparent or occult hernia on imaging would change their abdominal wall quality of life (AW-QOL).

Methods

This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04355819) in April 2020. Patients with a ventral hernia on elective CT abdomen/pelvis were enrolled. Patients underwent standardized abdominal examination by surgeons, and completed the modified Activities Assessment Scale, a validated, hernia-specific AW-QOL survey. On this scale, 1 is poor AW-QOL, 100 is perfect, and the minimally clinically important difference is five for a minor change. Patients were randomized to complete the one-year follow-up survey before or after being informed of the presence of a hernia on their imaging results. Primary outcome was follow-up AW-QOL adjusted for baseline AW-QOL.

Results

Of 169 patients randomized, 126 (75%) completed follow up at one-year. Among patients with occult hernias, those who completed the follow-up survey after being informed of having a hernia had a lower follow-up AW-QOL (mean difference − 7.6, 95% CI =  − 20.8 to 5.7, p = 0.261) compared to those who completed the survey before being informed. Conversely, for patients with clinical hernias, those who completed the survey after being informed had higher adjusted follow-up AW-QOL (mean difference 10.3, 95% CI =  − 3.0 to 23.6, p = 0.126) than those that completed it after.

Conclusion

Conveying findings of hernias found on CT imaging can influence patients’ AW-QOL. Future research should focus on identifying and addressing patients’ concerns after disclosure of CT results.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    O. A. Olavarria, K. Bernardi, N. H. Dhanani, N. Neela & J. L. Holihan

  2. Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    O. A. Olavarria, K. Bernardi, N. H. Dhanani & J. L. Holihan

  3. Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    N. B. Lyons, A. Arakelians & B. L. Cohen

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Houston, HCA Kingwood, Kingwood, TX, USA

    K. Mohebzad, R. Coelho & M. K. Liang

  5. Ryder Trauma Center, Suite T-215, 1800 NW 10Th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    N. B. Lyons & B. L. Cohen

Authors
  1. O. A. Olavarria
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  2. N. B. Lyons
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  3. K. Bernardi
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  4. N. H. Dhanani
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  5. N. Neela
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  8. K. Mohebzad
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  10. J. L. Holihan
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  11. M. K. Liang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. B. Lyons.

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This study was approved by the institutional review board and was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Olavarria, O.A., Lyons, N.B., Bernardi, K. et al. Impact of disclosure of radiographic test results on quality of life among patients with hernias: a randomized controlled trial. Hernia 28, 411–418 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-023-02824-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-023-02824-w

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