Using patient data to optimize an expert-based guideline on convalescence recommendations after gynecological surgery: a prospective cohort study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics (N = 304)

Patient characteristics
Age (years ± SD)	45.3 ± 7.5
Dutch nationality	292 (96.1%)
Education level^a
Low	33 (10.9%)
Intermediate	124 (40.8%)
High	147 (48.4%)
Smoking status
None-smoker	176 (57.9%)
Former-smoker	66 (21.7%)
Current-smoker	62 (20.4%)
Surgery-related characteristics
Type of surgery
Laparoscopic adnexal surgery	109 (35.9%)
Laparoscopic hysterectomy	79 (26.0%)
Vaginal hysterectomy	58 (19.1%)
Abdominal hysterectomy	58 (19.1%)
Health-related characteristics
Perceived health status (median (IQR))	80.0 (70.0–90.0)
Under treatment by another specialist	130 (42.8%)
History of previous abdominal surgery	110 (36.2%)
Work-related characteristics
Type of work
Salary employed	256 (84.2%)
Self-employed	42 (13.8%)
Voluntary work	6 (2.0%)
Work hours per week (mean ± SD)	29.9 ± 9.4
Sick leave prior to surgery^b	108 (35.5%)
RTW expectation (long)^c	50 (16.4%)
RTW intention (low)^d	66 (21.7%)

Data present the number of patients (%), unless otherwise indicated
^aLow = preschool, primary school; intermediate = secondary school; high = tertiary school, university, or postgraduate
^bDefined as at least 1 day of abcence
^cDefined as expectation longer than 3 weeks for adnexal surgery, longer than 6 weeks for laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy, or longer than 8 weeks for abdominal hysterectomy
^dA higher score indicates a higher intention to return to work despite physical symptoms (range 1–5). A low intention was defined as score 1 or 2

ISSN: 1471-2482