Factors influencing the acceptance of toenail-to-fingernail transfer.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to determine the factors influencing the acceptance of toenail-to-fingernail transfer. A total of 240 patients were divided into four groups according to severity of nail injury. Half (expensed informed [EI] group) were informed about the expenses (about $9,000) before the interview; the other half were not informed (the expense not-informed [ENI] group). The participants were asked to answer yes or no to the question "If you lose your fingernail and it can be reconstructed by transferring your toenail like this figure, will you undergo surgery? If you want it or not, please choose the reason for your choice." In the EI group, 68.3% accepted the surgery. In the ENI group, 85.0% accepted the surgery. There was a significant difference between the EI and ENI groups (p = 0.002). In the EI group, the age of the surgery acceptance group (36.9 ± 11.8) was significantly lower (p = 0.004) than that of the surgery rejection group (44.5 ± 15.5). The young age group wished to accept the surgery irrespective of the expenses, yet the old age group hesitated to have surgery when informed about the expenses. We think the risk acceptance for toenail-to-fingernail transfer mostly depends upon the expense.