Measurement of beliefs about effectiveness of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation

To explore gynaecologists' 'prior' beliefs on effectiveness of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation (LUNA), a structured survey was used to gather information on the distribution of their prior beliefs regarding the effects of LUNA on pelvic pain, both numerically [on a 10-point visual analogue scale] and by responses to a questionnaire. None of the 25 gynaecologists responding to the questionnaire stated that LUNA would increase pain, while two of the 25 gave numerical answers suggesting they believed that the intervention would worsen the pain. The most widely held 'prior belief', reflected in both questionnaire and numerical responses, was that LUNA would have a small beneficial effect on pain.