In this prospective cohort study at an academic medical center, researchers surveyed new patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis, herniated disc or spinal stenosis one week after diagnosis and again six months later.
Of the surveyed participants, 70.3 responded initially and 85 percent responded at follow-up. Almost half –– 49 percent –– of respondents underwent surgery, and 37.4 percent made informed, patient-centered decisions. Patients who made patient-centered decisions had significantly better overall and disease-specific quality of life, satisfaction and reported less regret.
“Well-informed patients who receive their preferred treatment [have] better health outcomes and higher satisfaction,” study authors concluded.
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