Table 1 Study characteristics

Uppal, 2003 [19] and Uppal, 2004 [20]

Historically controlled trial

Otolaryngology department; UK hospital

Patients undergoing nasal septal surgery

Dec 2000 to Jan 2002

75

Telephone call with ENT nurse six weeks after surgery using standardised protocol

Patient satisfaction with follow-up

Direct costs

Indirect costs

Total costs of follow-up

mean age 42 years; 76% male

Jan 1999 to Dec 2000

78

Clinic appointment with surgeon (time not specified)

Sittitavornwong, 2005 [21]

RCT

Oral and maxillofacial surgery department, US University

Patients undergoing third molar removal performed under general anaesthetic

Not reported

23

Telephone call at two weeks after surgery using a questionnaire

Patient satisfaction with follow-up

Post-operative morbidity

mean age 20 years; 38% male

25

Clinic appointment at two weeks

Incidence of post-operative help

Susarla, 2011 [22]

Retrospective cohort

Oral and maxillofacial surgery department in a tertiary referral centre, US

Patients undergoing tooth extraction in an ambulatory setting

July 2007 to June 2009

155

Telephone call with surgeon five to 10 days after surgery using a standardised proforma

Frequency of intra-operative or postoperative complication

Compliance with follow-up

Patient satisfaction with follow-up

mean age 28.6 years; 39% male

209

Clinic appointment with surgeon seven to 10 days after surgery

No. of post-operative visits

Mandal, 2004 [23]

Prospective cohort

Eye infirmary; UK hospital

Patients undergoing cataract surgery

Not reported

100

Home visit by ophthalmic nurse one day after surgery

Feelings of reassurance

Level of understanding of post-operative information

100

Clinic appointment with ophthalmic nurse one day after surgery

Satisfaction with length of review

100

Telephone call using a structured review form one day after surgery