Evaluation of the effect of two different hair removal methods prior to surgery on surgical site infections

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to assess the effect of two different hair removal methods on surgical site infections (SSI) before surgery. Methods: The study was conducted between 30.05.2015 and 30.03.2016 as a prospective, randomized controlled study. The sample of the research consisted of 114 male patients (61 intervention, 53 control). Patients were monitored on the 7th-30th-90th days during their stay in the hospital and after their discharge, with forms of descriptive characteristics, surgical site specific information, and SSI patterns. Percentage, median, chi square test was used in the evaluation of the data. Results: It was observed that all the patients in the intervention group (clipping) had no SSI and there was only one patient in the control group (razor) that developed SSI on the 6th postoperative day (1.9%, n=1), and the statistical evaluation revealed an insignificant difference between the two groups (p>0.05; p=0.465). Conclusion: There is no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the study.