ii What Do Patients Want to Know? Determining the Information Needs of Patients

Background: No spine-specific educational tool has been developed using input from all relevant stakeholders, including patients. Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the information needs of lumbar microdiscectomy patients. Methods: Qualitative methods with thematic analysis was used. Focus groups were conducted with: 1) preoperative microdiscectomy patients; 2) postoperative microdiscectomy patients; 3) spine surgeons; 4) spine fellows; 5) orthopaedic surgery residents; 6) anesthesiologists; 7) surgeons ’ administrative assistants; and, 8) preoperative assessment team. Results: Major information needs were related to: anesthesia, surgical procedure details and postoperative course. Patients desire information on postoperative course much more than surgeons perceive. Desired attributes of information tools as well as patient factors that influence the extent of information shared by surgeons were determined. Information resources should be given to patients as soon as they are deemed surgical candidates. Conclusions: Microdiscectomy patients desire more information than currently provided to them – in particular postoperative-related information