Patient satisfaction with outpatient hysteroscopy versus day case hysteroscopy: randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare outpatient hysteroscopy with day case hysteroscopy in terms of patient satisfaction and acceptability. SETTING: Gynaecology clinic of a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 100 women. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to outpatient hysteroscopy or day case hysteroscopy provided they had no preference for either procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Satisfaction rate, requirements for postoperative analgesia, speed of recovery, time away from home, and time off work. RESULTS: The outpatient group recovered preoperative fitness more quickly than the day case group (2 days (range 1-2.7) versus 3 days (2-4), P<0.05). After the procedure, the outpatient group were also fully mobile more quickly than the day case group (0 minutes (0-5) versus 105 minutes (80-120), P<0.001). Requirements for postoperative analgesia were similar in both groups. Overall, 78% of patients considered that the pain from outpatient hysteroscopy was less than that usually experienced during menstruation. Patient satisfaction was similar in both groups (83.6% in the outpatient group versus 77.0% in the day case group). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient hysteroscopy and day case hysteroscopy were equally acceptable to patients. Patients recovered significantly more quickly from outpatient hysteroscopy than from day case hysteroscopy.