Influence of personality psychology on outcome of total hip arthroplasty: a cross-sectional study on 69 patients

Aim: Patient’s satisfaction after total hip arthroplasty is influenced by many surgical and rehabilitation aspects, but is not available in the literature, a study that analyses the correlation between patient’s psychology and clinical results of this procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between memory of pain, clinical outcome and subjective satisfaction with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a cohort of 69 patients operated of total hip arthroplasty in our department from November 2008 to August 2011. Pre- and post-operative hip function was assessed by the Harris Hip Score. At the follow-up visit, patient satisfaction was assessed by means of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. The memory of pain was evaluated by a modified questionnaire of pain experience. Multidimensional Health Locus of Control was evaluated in all patients, and results were connected with patient’s subjective satisfaction and pain indexes. Results: Patients were divided into two groups about patient satisfaction, those with GPS > 15 and those with GPS ≤ 15. Patients very satisfied showed a significantly higher mean value of IHLC. Regarding pain experience, patients were divided into two categories: those recalling less pain with OvP score ≤11 (Q1 < 3, avg. score Q2–Q4 ≤ 3) and those recalling more pain with OvP score >11. IHLC score resulted significantly higher in patients recalling less pain. Discussion: Multidimensional Health Locus of Control can be considered a predictor of patient’s satisfaction after an invasive surgical procedure as total hip arthroplasty.