Patient journey following lumbar spinal fusion surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The patient journey following lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LSFS): multicentre qualitative analysis of the patient rehabilitation experience
IRAS ID
223283
Contact name
Alison Rushton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
Aim\nThis study will explore the perceptions of patients who undergo lumbar spinal fusion surgery, capturing their lived experiences in order to inform the future development of a risk based tool and personalised rehabilitation. \nMethods\nA qualitative study using an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach will recruit a purposive sample of patients to ensure patterns of similarity and difference in their journeys can be explored, capturing conceptual diversity. In-depth semi-structured interviews will be undertaken following discharge home and at 12-months post surgery. Patients’ pre and post-operative experiences, underlying attitudes and beliefs towards the surgical intervention, facilitators and barriers to recovery, adherence to advice and physiotherapy, experiences of rehabilitation, and return to normal function/activity/work will be explored. A 12-month patient diary will capture the patient’s journey by providing real time access to patient data, tracking the course of their experiences over time. The diary will capture a weekly record of life as lived, including symptoms, medication, experiences of stages of recovery, rehabilitation adherence, healthcare professional appointments, attitudes, their feelings and experiences throughout their journey. \nData analysis\nData will be coded in accordance with IPA. Analysis of the first interview and patient diary will afford a rich density of data, to build an overall understanding of the patients’ lived experiences; informing the 12-month interview. \nClinical implications\nFindings will ensure that patient driven data informs development of the future tool and personalised rehabilitation by understanding the patient journey; capturing the strategies/mechanisms patients use to cope/manage from their onset of problems, through to the decision for surgery and their ongoing recovery. \n
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0311
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion