Defining and Measuring Patient Acceptability in Orthopaedic Surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Defining and Measuring Patient Acceptability in Orthopaedic Surgery: A qualitative interview study to identify and explore concepts that are important regarding the patient acceptability of orthopaedic surgical interventions
IRAS ID
362458
Contact name
Sophie James
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
In healthcare research, the word “acceptability” is often used. In research about surgery, this might mean exploring if patients think a surgery is a good idea and are willing to have it, or not.
“Orthopaedic surgery” describes surgery on bones, joints and muscles. This can include surgery for long-term issues like replacing a joint, or for injuries from accidents. About 60% of people will need this type of surgery in their lifetime. It can reduce pain, increase how well someone can move and improve how someone can do something. Surgery may help patients to return to their normal daily life.
Understanding the acceptability of an orthopaedic surgery to patients is important. It is difficult to do at the moment, because there is not one clear way to describe what acceptability means, or one way being used to measure it. It might be that patients consider pain, recovery time or scarring when thinking about the acceptability of a surgery, but we do not know this for certain. If we can find out what is important to patients about acceptability of a surgery then patients and carers be provided with this information to help them when making decisions about having surgery, which will improve patient care.
Surgeons and researchers also want to know about the acceptability of surgery so they can find out what is best for patients. The people who fund research sometimes ask for information about “patient acceptability.” One single way to describe and measure acceptability would make it easier to compare different surgeries and improve research about them.
The aim of this research is to find out what acceptability of orthopaedic surgery means to patients (and asking some healthcare professionals) and why it is important and to use this information to create a clear definition, and a way to measure patient acceptability.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0163
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion