Abstract
Background
Persistent low back and leg pain is a common and highly disabling musculoskeletal condition. Many patients seek the opinion of a neurosurgeon with a view to surgical intervention. Few data are available which document the experiences of patients at these consultations.
Aims
To investigate the experiences of patients seeking a neurosurgical opinion for back and leg pain.
Methods
15 patients (Males 9 Females 6) were consented and recruited into this study and participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview about their experiences of the consultation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcribed data were read independently by two researchers and analysed using grounded theory.
Results
Three subgroups of patients were identified from the interviews. Group 1: Patients that were offered surgery and described a positive experience. Group 2: Patients that were not offered surgery and described a positive experience. Group 3: Patients that were not offered surgery and described a negative experience. Analysis revealed a number of different themes pertaining to the experiences of each group. However, two overarching themes of i) meeting patients' expectations and ii) the factor of hope, emerged as significant contributors to their experience and were evident in all three subgroups.
Conclusion
Findings identified the need to manage patient expectations in the consultation in order to provide a positive experience. Providing patients with hope who are not undergoing surgery, but who have an expectation for it, is likely to provide a more positive experience and therefore increased satisfaction with care.
No conflicts of interest
Part funded by North East London Foundation Trust
