Patient-Reported Outcomes in Spine Surgery: The Wealth of Data

Area of Science:

• Spine Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Health Care Quality

Background:

• Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly recognized for assessing patient and quality-of-care outcomes in spine surgery.
• The benefits and challenges of collecting and clinically using PROs require further establishment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review published evidence on the clinical relevance of PRO measures in spine surgery.
• To discuss the value of PRO data in monitoring clinical and quality-of-care outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Searched peer-reviewed literature for studies on PRO data in spine surgery.
• Critically analyzed articles evaluating PRO data collection and clinical use for outcome monitoring.

Main Results:

• PROs assess patients' perception of pain, function, and psychometric outcomes.
• Benefits include patient involvement, improved patient-provider rapport, and patient-centered care.
• PROs standardize outcomes and create a framework for quality research and policymaking.

Conclusions:

• Physician-reported outcomes alone are insufficient for comprehensive evaluation in spine surgery.
• Incorporating PROs is integral to healthcare excellence, offering insight into patient experiences.
• PROs integrate patient perspectives into clinical practice for improved care delivery.