Measuring surgical patient engagement: A scoping review

Rebecca Law, RMIT UniversityFollow
Dawn Wong Lit Wan, RMIT UniversityFollow
Sonja Cleary, RMIT UniversityFollow
Wanda Stelmach, Department of Surgery, Northern HospitalFollow
Krinal Mori, Department of Surgery, Northern HospitalFollow
Zhen Zheng, RMIT UniversityFollow

Author Credentials

Rebecca J Law, BHSc, MSc (cand),^a Dawn Wong Lit Wan, PhD,^a Sonja Cleary, PhD,^aWanda Stelmach, MBBS, FRACS,^b Krinal Mori, MBBS, FRACS,^b and Zhen Zheng, PhD^a, *

^aSchool of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia

^bDepartment of Surgery, Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper St, Epping VIC 3076

Abstract

Background

Patient engagement is a patient’s capacity and willingness to participate and collaborate in their own health care. This scoping review aimed to identify tools used to measure engagement among surgical patients, the levels of engagement and the association between engagement and surgical outcomes. We hypothesise that highly engaged patients are more likely to achieve better surgical outcomes.

Review methods

MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Embase were searched for studies that assessed adult perioperative patients for engagement. Analysis from charting the data identified the measurement tools, levels of capacity to engage and relationships between engagement and surgical outcomes.

Results

Twelve studies were selected out of 3975 identified; three valid and reliable tools to measure surgical patient engagement – Patient activation measure (PAM®), Patient health engagement scale (PHE-s) and Hopkins rehabilitation engagement rating scale (HRERS) – were identified, as well as levels of engagement. The capacity to engage was categorised into two, three or four levels. High levels of engagement were associated with enhanced patient satisfaction, better adherence to physical therapy, and decreased pain and disability.

Conclusion

There are valid and reliable tools to measure the capacity of surgical patients to engage in their post-operative recovery; PAM® is the most frequently used tool. Patients with higher engagement are more likely to report better physical health and greater satisfaction with their surgery. Using these tools could assist health care providers in the early identification of patients at risk of poor recovery and provide tailored support.

Recommended Citation

Law, Rebecca; Wan, Dawn Wong Lit; Cleary, Sonja; Stelmach, Wanda; Mori, Krinal; and Zheng, Zhen (2022) "Measuring surgical patient engagement: A scoping review," Journal of Perioperative Nursing: Vol. 35 : Iss. 3 , Article 6.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.26550/2209-1092.1197