The Relationship between Explanation and Patient Compliance in Hirudotherapy.
10.7181/acfs.2017.18.3.179
- Author:
Kwang Seog KIM
1
;
Ho Seup SIM
;
Jun Ho SHIN
;
Jae Ha HWANG
;
Sam Yong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. pskim@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Surgical flaps;
Bloodletting;
Leeches;
Patient compliance;
Surveys and questionnaires
- MeSH:
Agriculture;
Bloodletting;
Caregivers;
Cognition;
Compliance;
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP);
Female;
Human Body;
Humans;
Leeches;
Leg;
Male;
Patient Compliance*;
Surgical Flaps;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Wounds and Injuries
- From:Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
2017;18(3):179-185
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The use of leeches can effectively increase the salvage rate of flap congestion. However, the first reaction from patients and carers in using leeches in clinical fields is strong aversion. This can be due to the fact that development of our culture from agriculture to industrial society, coming across leeches became fairly rare. Also because of the biological traits that leeches carry; staying attached to a leg or other body parts of the host, sucking blood, and leaving wounds. METHODS: This study was conducted through questionnaires, divided into many subgroups. We scaled the compliance of the two therapies, with or without leech. Maximum scale of 10 showing no rejective response to the therapy and minimum scale of 0 showing the greatest rejective response. RESULTS: Overall subjects' compliance was improved after explaining the benefits of hirudotherapy. Irrelevant to the explanation, there was no significant difference in general compliance between male and female. Young-aged group and medical personnel or people studying medicine showed higher compliance over older-aged group and the general public. CONCLUSION: In the terms of general social cognition, recognizing leech as a therapeutic material may not be welcomed at first, but provided with proper information and explanations, overall compliance of patients and carers can be improved and consequently result in superior outcomes in flap salvage.
