Background: Despite extensive counseling, patients commonly call with postoperative concerns after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).
Objective: We sought to determine the incidence, reasons, and patient and surgical characteristics that lead to patient-initiated communication after MMS.
Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of 1,531 patients who underwent MMS during the observational period was conducted. Demographics and perioperative characteristics of patients who initiated communication were compared with a random sample of matched controls.
Results: Of the 1,531 patients who underwent MMS, 263 patients (17.2%) initiated 412 communication encounters within 90 days of surgery. Top reasons for patient-initiated communication included wound concerns, bleeding, and postoperative pain. Female patients and those with a larger surgical defect size (cm) were more likely to call postoperatively. Patients who underwent second intention healing, grafts, and interpolation flaps were more likely to initiate communication compared to patients repaired with a linear closure.
Conclusion: This study identifies the incidence, reasons, and patient and surgical factors predictive of patient-initiated communication after MMS, which may allow for targeted improvements in postoperative counseling, ameliorating patient anxiety, augmenting patient satisfaction, and improved efficiency for the health care team.