{
  "abstract": "Objectives To gain insight into patients’ views, perceptions, experiences and expectations postlumbar discectomy.Methods A qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) purposively recruited patients undergoing lumbar discectomy at one UK spinal centre. Purposive criteria included age, sex, ethnicity, symptom duration, work/sick leave, education level and co-existing psychological issues. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a patient co-constructed topic guide. Interview transcriptions were analysed in accordance with IPA. Strategies enhancing trustworthiness included suspension of judgements and presuppositions, reflexivity, iterative coding process and critique from co-investigators.Results Data from 14 participants (eight elective, 6 emergency surgery) informed four themes. The theme ready to move forwards was characterised by high satisfaction with post-operative improvement, positivity and optimism, with readiness to work towards personal goals. The theme post-operative fear and uncertainty was characterised by reflections on pre-operative difficulties fuelling fear about potential recurrence and long-term impacts. The theme of advice and guidance considered important was characterised by the expectation and value of support provided (verbal, written); instances of negative influences from healthcare interactions and access to unregulated patient information sources suggest scope for future improvement. The final theme, heterogeneity in peri-operative needs, was characterised by variation in depth/access to patient information, perceived post-operative support and wide-ranging preoperative activity/fitness.Conclusions Surgery offers physical and psychosocial changes which could be better harnessed to positively influence recovery through high quality verbal/written communication. Peri-operative advice and guidance was valued; while this was sufficient for some, personalised rehabilitation should be available owing to the identified heterogeneity.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Physiotherapy Department, Level 1, North Suite, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK",
        "Queen Elizabeth Neurosciences Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Louise White"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nicola R Heneghan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Queen Elizabeth Neurosciences Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Navin Furtado"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Physiotherapy, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Karl Baraks"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Zeeshan Parvez"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK",
        "Department of Allied Health, Birmingham Newman University, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Annabel Masson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Physical Therapy, Western University Faculty of Health Sciences, London, Ontario, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Alison B Rushton"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Patient lumbar discectomy journey (DiscJourn) in the UK: a qualitative study",
  "uid": "4ebaef1a-70fe-5b6b-94c3-47fd05a930cb"
}