Cognitive Health Awareness Program in Surgical Patients

Overview

Addressing brain health and cognitive impairment (CI) in the aging population is important, especially in those undergoing surgery. While certain adverse outcomes are beyond control due to various factors, some may be preventable, such as delirium. It is crucial for patients and their families to be fully aware of the heightened risks associated with CI. By discussing the implications for individuals and their families, patients can make informed decisions about their health. Additionally, patients can be better prepared for their post-operative care and informed about post-operative complications. Education is a practical and viable solution to promote awareness and empower individuals to manage their cognitive health, especially in the context of surgery. Also, it can act as an early intervention. Thus, there is a need to proactively educate older adults about brain health. The objective of the Web-Based Brain Health Education Study is to determine the impact of preoperative education on the knowledge of cognitive health of older surgical patients. Specifically, our study will examine the changes in knowledge scores after patients participate in a web-based education program on promoting brain health during their surgical journey. We hypothesize that a web-based education program will increase patient knowledge and empower them proactively about their brain health during the surgical journey.

The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of a web-based educational program in promoting brain health in older surgical patients by changes in their knowledge score after education. For the secondary objectives, we aim to 1) determine participant satisfaction with the educational program, and 2) gain insights regarding perceived benefits and drawbacks of the brain health program. This multicenter study will target older patients from pre-admission clinics at Toronto Western (TWH) and Mount Sinai Hospitals (MSH). Written informed consent to participate in the study will be obtained from all patients in person during the visit. In a pre-operative assessment 1-30 days prior to their scheduled surgery, patients will be asked to participate in our web-based educational program. The program will be delivered on a research laptop/iPad/ paper version at the clinic. The entire program, including pre- and post-education questionnaires and satisfaction survey should take about 20 minutes to complete.