Patient Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Peripheral Nerve Trauma Care.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Medicine
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex condition often managed in specialized interdisciplinary clinics.
• These clinics bring together multiple specialists (surgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, technicians) for a single patient encounter.
• The patient experience within this integrated care model for PNI has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient perceptions of care delivery and health information effectiveness in an interdisciplinary PNI clinic.
• To identify key aspects contributing to patient satisfaction or areas for improvement in PNI care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional mixed-methods study utilizing a 23-question survey.
• Survey co-designed with a lived-experience partner (brachial plexus injury patient).
• Participants (n=20) completed the survey after attending an interdisciplinary PNI clinic; included Likert scales and qualitative questions analyzed via content analysis.

Main Results:

• Patients reported a median understanding score of 4/5 for testing purposes, results, nerve recovery, and surgical decisions.
• 58% of participants felt no improvements were necessary for the clinical experience.
• Positive feedback included appreciation for the team approach (64%), informative nature (27%), and perceived progress during nerve testing (27%).

Conclusions:

• Patients with PNI generally perceive interdisciplinary clinic care and information delivery positively.
• The integrated model appears effective for knowledge translation and patient understanding in PNI management.
• Findings support the benefits of interdisciplinary care for improving the patient experience in peripheral nerve injury treatment.