Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
Surgical Approach and Complications of Stand-alone Lateral Trans-Psoas Interbody Fusion
Published on: February 14, 2025
Patient perspectives on elective orthopaedic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison between patients from
H Hodgson1, R Golmohamad2, A Gulati2
1Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
Insights
Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) patients showed less enthusiasm for resuming elective surgery post-COVID-19 compared to white patients. Addressing ethnic disparities in pain and anxiety is crucial for equitable surgical recovery and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Surgical outcomes
- Health equity
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic led to significant elective surgery delays, increasing patient waiting lists.
- Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
- Study investigates ethnic differences in patient perspectives on resuming elective surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the views of patients from different ethnic backgrounds regarding the resumption of elective surgery.
- To identify potential ethnic disparities in patient concerns and experiences related to surgical delays and restart.
- To inform service redesign for equitable postoperative care.
Main Methods:
- 151 patients from cancelled operating lists participated in semi-structured interviews.
- Interviews explored the impact of COVID-19 and views on resuming surgery.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measured anxiety and pain, respectively.
- Exploratory thematic analysis was used for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Fewer BAME patients (47.3%) were positive about surgery restart compared to white patients (82.6%).
- A higher proportion of BAME patients desired to postpone surgery (21.8% vs 9.3%).
- White patients reported higher anxiety (GAD-7 scores), while Black patients reported higher pain (VAS scores).
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-related surgical delays have severely impacted patients, with BAME groups facing higher risks of postponement and subsequent health deterioration.
- Variations in pain and anxiety levels across ethnic groups necessitate tailored service redesign to prevent postoperative outcome disparities.
- Considering the diverse concerns of all patients is essential to prevent health inequalities and ensure equitable care post-pandemic.
Introduction:
Suspending elective surgery during the first wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) led to record-breaking numbers of patients on waiting lists. Patients in Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This study compares the perspectives of patients from different ethnic backgrounds on the return to elective surgery.
Methods:
Some 151 patients were sampled from cancelled operating lists at two hospitals. Semi-structured interviews focused on the impact of COVID-19, and views about resuming elective surgery. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-iten Scale (GAD-7) measured anxiety. A visual analogue scale (VAS) measured pain. Data were analysed using exploratory thematic analysis.
Results:
Fewer BAME patients were pleased about restarting surgery, compared with white patients (47.3% vs 82.6%, p<0.001), and a greater proportion wanted to postpone their operation until after the pandemic (21.8% vs 9.3%, p=0.048). White/white British patients had higher GAD-7 scores (2 (0-21) vs 0 (0-16), p=0.009). Black/Black British patients had significantly higher VAS scores compared with white/white British and Asian/Asian British patients (85 vs 75 vs 70 respectively, p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The delay in surgery due to the pandemic has had a devastating impact on patients awaiting operations. The variation in pain and anxiety levels between ethnic groups must be addressed when redesigning services to avoid discrepancies in postoperative clinical outcomes. Patients in BAME groups are more likely to postpone their operation, which may lead to further health deterioration, psychosocial and socio-economic consequences, and poorer clinical outcomes following surgery. The thoughts, feelings and concerns of all must be considered when redesigning services to prevent health inequalities between patients from different backgrounds.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
02:16Surveys
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture