Patients’ attitudes towards the potential use of stability tape to minimize head movements during cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Cataract
Session Date/Time: Saturday 16/02/2019 | 08:30-11:00
Paper Time: 10:18
Venue: Hall Trianti

First Author: K.Brogan UK
Co Author(s): D. Lockington                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Any head movement during cataract surgery could increase the risk of complications. Using tape to stabilize the head may reduce this intra-operative risk, but may be mis-interpreted as “restraint”. We wanted to establish patients’ attitudes towards the potential use of stability tape.

Setting:

Day Surgery Unit, Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow.

Methods:

One-hundred consecutive patients attending for local-anaesthetic cataract surgery were asked to complete a pre-operative questionnaire. The questionnaire explored patient concerns regarding intra-operative head movement using a scale of 1-10 (1 least to 10 most concern), asked if they felt stability tape should be offered as an option, if they would consent to its’ use, and if they had any concerns about this practice.

Results:

All 100 patients completed the questionnaire. Average age was 75 years (range 35-92). Thirty-nine were male and 61 female. 51% were having 1st-eye surgery. The mean head movement concern score was 3 (SD 2.3). 84% felt stability tape should be offered to all patients and 97% would consent for its’ use as required. Only 6% voiced concern about the use of stability tape (95% CI 2.2%, 12.6%); comments included feeling “restrained”, “restricted”, “confined” and “claustrophobic”. Two patients with Parkinson’s disease-related tremor required head-taping for surgery. Both patients found stability tape extremely reassuring, had no complaints and had no complications.

Conclusions:

The concept of stability tape to minimize head movements during cataract surgery was viewed positively by patients. This strategy has the potential to improve the patient experience and outcomes of cataract surgery in the setting of tremor.

Financial Disclosure:

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