Preoperative spinal education for lumbar spinal stenosis (POSE-LSS): A qualitative analysis of patient experiences.
James E Eubanks, Jordan A Gliedt, Zachary A Cupler and 5 others
PMID 40257228WHAT IT FOUND
Ten patients undergoing lumbar stenosis surgery described a prehabilitation program as feasible and helpful for managing fear and setting realistic expectations.
They valued one-on-one education and anatomical models. No barriers to completion were reported.
Key findings
01Participants described the program as highly feasible and easy to access, with no significant barriers to completion reported.
02Three themes emerged: helping with surgical preparation and expectations, addressing modifiable psychological factors like anxiety, and fitting into a larger support system.
03Patients valued the one-on-one nature of the physical therapy session, particularly the use of anatomical models to visualize their condition and the emphasis on 'hurt doesn't equal harm'.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study included only 10 participants, limiting the breadth of experiences captured. All participants were White, so findings may not generalize to other racial or cultural groups. Interviews were conducted postoperatively, relying on recall of the preoperative period. 5 of 15 invited patients declined participation, potentially introducing selection bias. As a qualitative study, it reports patient experiences and themes but does not measure clinical outcomes or efficacy.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these favorable patient experiences as evidence that the POSE-LSS program improves surgical outcomes or reduces complications. This study reports qualitative themes from ten patients and did not measure clinical endpoints.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →