What Patients Want? A Pilot Single-Center Study Prioritizing Patient Expectations

Study DesignProspective study.ObjectivesTo understand the patient's priority in terms of various variables and asses the difference in priority of these variables pre and post-operatively.MethodsIn this single-surgeon prospective study, patients that had undergone spine surgery from January 2022 to September 2024 (excluding those with deformity correction, spinal infections, trauma, or tumors) completed a 12-variable questionnaire designed by us. The variables included scar size, preferred surgery type (open, minimally invasive, or no preference), limb pain relief, back pain relief, numbness relief, heaviness relief, disability relief, neurological improvement, operative site pain, discharge timing (same day, next day, or no preference), surgery duration (<1 h, >1 h, or no preference), and cost. Patients prioritized each variable by numbering tick boxes.ResultsA total of 228 forms (pre and post-operative each) were completed and ready for review. Order of priority varied pre and post-operatively. Priorities shifted post-operatively, with leg pain relief dropping from the top pre-operative priority to 11th, and back pain relief rising to third. Cost ranked fifth post-operatively, while incision size remained a low priority in both lists.ConclusionBased on the findings of our study, we can conclude that the patient's priority shifts after surgery. Effective pre-operative counseling is crucial for bridging this gap. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the patient's expectations and needs pre-operatively to ensure satisfaction post-surgery.