The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to assess recovery in patients undergoing benign laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. The main question it aims to answer is: do liberalized postoperative restrictions improve patient recovery after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery? Researchers will compare postoperative recovery surveys from the control group (patients given standard postoperative restrictions limiting activity for 2 weeks) to the research group (patients given liberalized postoperative instructions allowing them to engage in their normal activities of daily life at their own discretion without prescribed activity restrictions) to see if liberalized postoperative restrictions improve the recovery experience. Participants will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire at two time intervals, 1 week after surgery and 2 weeks after surgery.
The questionnaire will consist of the Recovery Index-10 (RI-10), a short recovery-specific instrument to assess subjective postoperative recovery that is specifically validated for gynecologic surgery. It is graded on a 5-point numerical Likert scale ranging from "full disagreement" to "full agreement." The questionnaire asks questions regarding pain, stamina/ability to complete daily chores, energy, and sleep. In addition to the RI-10 survey, a few additional questions will be asked to assess whether the patient has dependents they are responsible for, if they have returned to work, and if they have resumed driving.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
148
The study group will be given general postoperative instructions. They will also receive liberal activity restrictions instructing the patient to resume normal activities of daily living at their own discretion without specific restrictions.
Women and Infants Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Postoperative recovery
Postoperative recovery will be evaluated using the Recovery Index-10 (RI-10), a recovery-specific instrument to assess subjective postoperative recovery that is specifically validated for gynecologic surgery. It is graded on a 5-point numerical Likert scale ranging from "full disagreement" to "full agreement." The questionnaire asks questions regarding pain, stamina/ability to complete daily chores, energy, and sleep. Prior literature on the use and validation of RI-10 suggests a standard deviation of 20 and an effect size of 15.
Time frame: The RI-10 will be completed by the patient at two time points: 1 week post-surgery, and 2 weeks post-surgery
Postoperative complications
Postoperative complications as defined by unscheduled patient contacts for pain or incisional complaints. This could include: ER visits, urgent clinic visits, phone calls regarding incisional complaints, any 30-day readmissions.
Time frame: Within 2 weeks postoperatively
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