Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33298017›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2020

Pre-treatment expectations of patients with spinal metastases: what do we know and what can we learn from other disciplines? A systematic review of qualitative studies.

R Gal, D Oostinga, H Wessels, J J Verlaan, R Charest-Morin, C G Fisher, H M Verkooijen, A L Versteeg

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

R GalDivision of Imaging and Cancer, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Heideberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, the Netherlands. R.Gal@umcutrecht.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7340-4581
D OostingaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
H WesselsDepartment of Corporate Communications, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J J VerlaanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
R Charest-MorinDepartment of Orthopaedics, Division of Spine, Vancouver General Hospital/University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
C G FisherDepartment of Orthopaedics, Division of Spine, Vancouver General Hospital/University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
H M VerkooijenDivision of Imaging and Cancer, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Heideberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
A L VersteegDivision of Imaging and Cancer, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Heideberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Utrecht University · NLUniversity of British Columbia · CAUniversity Medical Center Utrecht · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLittle is known about treatment expectations of patients with spinal metastases undergoing radiotherapy and/or surgery. Assuming that patients with spinal metastases share characteristics with patients who had spinal surgery for non-cancer related conditions and with advanced cancer patients, we performed a systematic review to summarize the literature on patient expectations regarding treatment outcomes of spinal surgery and advanced cancer care.

methodsA comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO for studies between 2000 and sep-2019. Studies including adult patients (> 18 years), undergoing spinal surgery or receiving advanced cancer care, investigating patients' pre-treatment expectations regarding treatment outcomes were included. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full-texts, extracted data and assessed methodological quality.

resultsThe search identified 7343 articles, of which 92 were selected for full-text review. For this review, 31 articles were included. Patients undergoing spinal surgery had overly optimistic expectations regarding pain and symptom relief, they underestimated the probability of functional disability, and overestimated the probability of (complete) recovery and return to work. Studies highlighted that patients feel not adequately prepared for surgery in terms of post-treatment expectations. Similarly, advanced cancer patients receiving palliative treatment often had overly optimistic expectations regarding their survival probability and cure rates.

conclusionsPatients tend to have overly optimistic expectations regarding pain and symptom relief, recovery and prognosis following spinal surgery or advanced cancer care. Pretreatment consultation about the expected pain and symptom relief, recovery and prognosis may improve understanding of prognosis, and promote and manage expectations, which, in turn, may lead to better perceived outcomes.

trial registrationPROSPERO registration number: CRD42020145151 .

Indexed as

Anticipation, PsychologicalMotivationActivities of Daily LivingAdultAgedCounselingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeurosurgical ProceduresPainPatientsQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeRadiotherapyAdvanced cancerPatient expectationsSpinal metastasesSpine surgeryTreatment outcomes

Identifiers

PMID33298017
PMCPMC7724808
OpenAlexW3111489140

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.