Information and Locus of Control as Factors in the Outcome of Surgery

Abstract

The present study was aimed at assessing the relationships of locus of control and amount of information patients possess regarding their surgery to several criteria of post-surgical adjustment, utilizing a self-report measure of pain, number of analgesics taken, days in hospital and frequency of complaints. 48 patients about to undergo elective cholecystectomy were evaluated one day prior to surgery and five days subsequent to surgery. The results supported the hypothesis that amount of information was negatively related to outcome especially with respect to pain. There was a correlation of .38 between information and the subjective and behavioral criteria of pain for internal individuals and of .39 between information and the subjective measure of pain found for external individuals. The results were discussed relative to their implications for interventions with surgical patients and the training of health personnel.