Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital researchers investigated the impact of combined physician-patient orthopedic treatment decisions, according to Medical Xpress.
The study involved survey responses from more than 550 patients who had:
• Hip or knee osteoarthritis
• Slipped or herniated lumbar disc
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
Patients filled out an initial survey, detailing their understanding of their condition; treatment preference; quality of life baseline; physical movement capabilities; and pain level. Six months following the initial visit or six months after surgery, patients filled out a follow-up survey, touching on their treatment; quality of life; treatment choice regrets; and outcomes.
Here are five notes:
1. Those patients who demonstrated a solid understanding of their conditions as well as received their preferred treatments made "informed patient-centered decisions."
2. Researchers determined one-third of the patients made informed patient-centered decisions, and these patients had higher overall and quality of life outcomes at the six-month follow-up.
3. The study revealed patients making informed patient-centered decisions were more likely to be extremely satisfied with their pain management (76.7 percent) as well as very or extremely satisfied with their treatment (70.7 percent).
4. Further these patients reported less regret about their treatment decisions compared to those patients not making informed patient-centered decisions; 5.2 percent of the informed patients, while 15 percent of non-informed patients reported regret.
5. The study authors concluded patients who participate in shared decision making experience higher satisfaction and better outcomes.