A majority of patients would choose surgical treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis, rather than treatment with only antibiotics, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery.
For the study, researchers conducted an online survey and an in-person sensitivity analysis survey. For the online survey, they asked a convenience sample of 1,728 respondents to imagine they or their child had acute uncomplicated appendicitis, provided information about laparoscopic and open appendectomy and antibiotic treatment alone, and then asked them which treatment they might choose. The web survey was open from April 17, 2016, through June 16, 2016.
For the sensitivity analysis, researchers gave 220 respondents the same information and options. They asked respondents who chose surgery whether certain factors influenced their decision. The sensitivity analysis participants were recruited at public venues from June 3, 2016, to July 31, 2016.
Of the 1,728 web survey respondents, 70.9 percent were female and 28.9 percent were male. The respondents said they were between 50 and 59 years of age.
The study shows that for themselves:
• 85.8 percent chose laparoscopic appendectomy
• 4.9 percent chose open appendectomy
• 9.4 percent chose antibiotics alone
For their child:
• 79.4 percent chose laparoscopic appendectomy
• 6.1 percent chose open appendectomy
• 14.5 percent chose antibiotics alone
Of the 220 participants involved in the sensitivity analysis, 54.5 percent were female and 45.5 percent were male. Most participants reported being between 18 and 24 years of age.
The sensitivity analysis showed improvements in the short-and long-term failure rate of antibiotic treatment were more likely to increase their desire to choose antibiotic treatment.