Reducing Distress and Anxiety: Patient Attitudes and Perceived Utility of Support Resources for Various Spinal Pathologies

Introduction: Post-operative distress and pre-operative anxiety are frequently reported by patients undergoing spine surgery, yet it remains uncertain specific interventions that might be most effective in addressing these issues. In this study, we assessed sources of pre-op and post-op distress, as well as patient perceptions regarding current interventions and support resources for those with various spinal pathologies.

Methods: Patients presenting to either a specialized spine clinic or academic cancer center for trauma, degeneration, or spinal tumors were prospectively enrolled and consented per IRB protocols. Participants were categorized as pre- or post-operative based on their surgery date, and data collected included sociodemographic details, pain levels (1-10 Likert scale), barriers to care, and the likelihood of utilizing various clinical resources (1-5 Likert scale). Data were presented as mean ± SD (degenerative vs. trauma vs. tumor), and the Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to compare means across groups.

Results: A total of 68 total patients were initially enrolled (pre-op: n = 44; post-op: n = 24). By indication, 48 patients were classified as tumor, 15 as degenerative, and 5 as trauma. On average, reported pain was highest in the degenerative group, followed by the trauma and tumor groups (4.8 ± 2.5 vs. 4.6 ± 1.8 vs. 3.6 ± 2.4, p = 0.161). Of note, palliative care was the only resource reported to be significantly different in perceived value between groups (3.2 ± 2.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.4 vs. 3.3 ± 1.7, p = 0.02). Among tumor patients specifically, talking to a similar patient was rated as the most helpful resource in the pre-operative group (3.9 ± 1.3), followed by palliative care (3.6 ± 1.6) and peer support groups (3.6 ± 1.4).

Conclusion : This study highlights trends in barriers to care and resource utilization, along with overall attitudes toward the interventions provided to spine patients in an outpatient context. While further data collection is ongoing, these findings underscore the potential significance of palliative care, as well as peer-support programs among patients with different spinal pathologies.