Evaluation of Same-Day Cancellation of Elective Surgeries (DOSCOST)

Evaluation of the Cancellation of Elective Surgeries on the Day of Operation in Terms of Hospital, Patient, and Cost Outcomes

This study evaluates elective surgeries that were cancelled on the scheduled day of operation. Same-day surgical cancellations may cause emotional stress for patients, inefficient use of hospital resources, and increased health care costs.

The aim of this observational study is to analyze the reasons for same-day cancellations and to assess their impact on patients, hospital workflow, and costs. Patient anxiety levels after cancellation will be evaluated using standardized questionnaires. The findings of this study may help improve perioperative planning and reduce preventable surgical cancellations.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Preoperative Anxiety; Elective Surgery Cancellation

Detailed Description

This prospective observational study was conducted at the operating rooms of Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital. The study included all elective surgical procedures that were cancelled on the scheduled day of operation for any reason after approval by the local ethics committee. Data were collected over a six-month period.

Demographic characteristics of patients, planned surgical procedures, surgical departments, and reasons for cancellation were recorded using patient interviews, medical records, and the hospital information system. Cancellations were categorized as patient-related, hospital-related, or surgery team-related.

The impact of same-day cancellations on hospital resources and costs was evaluated by estimating operating room idle time, personnel costs, unused equipment and medications, bed occupancy, preoperative preparation costs, and additional post-cancellation diagnostic or consultation expenses. Cost calculations were based on official Ministry of Health reimbursement tariffs.

Following cancellation and transfer back to the ward, patients were assessed face to face for anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The results of this study aim to provide data to improve perioperative planning, optimize hospital resource utilization, and reduce preventable elective surgery cancellations.

This study was registered retrospectively after study completion due to an administrative delay in trial registration.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 408

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Elaziğ
    • Elâzığ, Elaziğ, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Fethi Sekin City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients scheduled for elective surgery whose procedures were cancelled on the scheduled day of operation at Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elective surgical procedures cancelled on the scheduled day of operation for any reason.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who could not be contacted on the day of cancellation.

Patients with insufficient medical or administrative data in their records.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Cancelled Elective Surgery Cohort; This cohort includes patients whose elective surgical procedures were cancelled on the scheduled day of operation for any reason.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reasons for same-day cancellation of elective surgeries	Categorization of cancellation reasons as patient-related, hospital-related, or surgical team-related based on medical records and patient interviews.	From the date of scheduled elective surgery to the end of the same calendar day on which the cancellation occurred, assessed retrospectively using hospital medical records and patient interviews over a 12-month study period.
Estimated hospital cost associated with cancelled elective surgeries	Total estimated cost including operating room idle time, personnel costs, unused equipment and medications, bed occupancy, preoperative preparation costs, and additional post-cancellation diagnostic or consultation expenses.	Perioperative / Periprocedural

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
State anxiety level after surgical cancellation (STAI-State score)	The State Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State) is a validated self-report scale ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety.	Within 24 hours after cancellation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 18, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthcare costs; Patient anxiety; Elective surgery cancellation; Cancellation reasons; Economic impact
• Other Study ID Numbers: FSCH-OR-CANCEL-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No