Table 1. Summarized results of the postal survey conducted across Germany,with evaluation of the 386 returned questionnaires (95% confidence intervals in brackets).

Postoperative recommendations	After laparotomy	After laparoscopy
Avoidance of exertion: yes Duration Postoperative lifting (max.):  5 kg 10 kg 15 kg adapted to pain	358 (92.7%) [90; 95]0–24 weeks mean after longitudinal laparotomy 5.79 weeks [5.57; 6.11] transverse laparotomy 5.42 weeks [5.08; 5.75] 122 (34.1%) [29; 39] 125 (34.4%) [29; 39] 21 (5.8%) [1; 11] 95 (26.2%) [21; 31]	296 (77.5%) [73; 82] 0–12 weeks mean after laparoscopy 2.54 [2.34; 2.73] 58 (18.4%) [14; 23] 81 (25.7%) [21; 30] 20 (6.3%)  [4; 9] 156 (49.5%) [44; 55]
Mode of recommendation: – oral – written – both Based on: – scientific evidence – expert opinion – personal experience – other	121 (33%) 4 (1.1%) 242 (65.9%) 37 (10.5%) [7; 14] 105 (29.7%) [25; 35] 276 (78.2%) [74; 83] 31 (8.8%) [6; 12]
Abdominal corset: yes Duration in weeks (mean) Abstention from sexual intercourse: yes Duration in weeks (mean) Abstention from sports: yes Duration in weeks (mean) Recommended time off from work: yes Duration in weeks (mean)	81 (22.2%) [18; 26]  4.28 [3.67; 4.89] 21 (5.7%) [3; 8] 3.14 [2.54; 3.74] 309 (84.2%) [80; 88] 4.70 [4.42; 4.98] 116 (31.7%) [27; 36] 2.98 [2.73; 3.22]	2 (0.5%) [0; 1] 3.0 [not measurable] 11 (3%) [1; 5] 2.82 [1.88; 3.76] 217 (59.3%) [54; 64] 2.40 [2.22; 2.58] 100 (27.3%) [23; 32] 1.84 [1.68; 2.0]