All patients are not the same: An audit comparing the public and private sectors

Abstract

Background It is acknowledged that a variety of patient factors are known to influence consultation length as well as outcomes and complication rates following surgery. As little research has been published in this area, our aim was to compare the prevalence of such factors amongst foot and ankle surgical patients treated in the private and public sectors. Methods Information was prospectively collected on 100 consecutive new patients presenting to foot and ankle clinics in private practice, a trauma center and a metropolitan hospital. Data was collected for age, primary pathology, availability of home support, employment status, necessity for interpreter, smoking status, presence of diabete..