Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39648235›Full record

Observational studyQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2025

Patients' experience on waiting for spinal arthrodesis: a qualitative study.

Paolo Pillastrini, Silvano Ferrari, Angela Albano, Michela Beni, Ilaria Burbello, Laura De Cristofaro, Cristiana Griffoni, Katia Mattarozzi, Giuliana Nervuti, Carla Vanti

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06323694 (Quality of Life, Expectations, Thoughts and Fears of Patients on the Waiting List for Spinal Surgery), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT06323694 completednot on this map

Quality of Life, Expectations, Thoughts and Fears of Patients on the Waiting List for Spinal Surgery: a Qualitative Study

TypeobservationalSponsorIstituto Ortopedico RizzoliRan2022 to 2024Enrolled15ConditionsSpinal SurgeryArmsquality of life
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

10 authors.

Paolo PillastriniDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8396-2250
Silvano FerrariDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7654-9444
Angela AlbanoDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
Michela BeniCasa di Cura Bonvicini - Privatklinik, 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
Ilaria BurbelloPhysiotherapy Private Practice, 35019, Tombolo, PD, Italy.
Laura De CristofaroDepartment of Clinical Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy. decristofarolaura@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7959-4865
Cristiana GriffoniStruttura Complessa Chirurgia Vertebrale, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136, Bologna, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8344-7534
Katia MattarozziDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1784-750X
Giuliana NervutiStruttura Complessa Chirurgia Vertebrale, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
Carla VantiDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7741-9200

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA number of studies have explored patients' subjective experience of waiting for spinal surgery, however, they did so through an investigation conducted post-operatively. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the experience of patients while still on the waitlist for lumbar spinal arthrodesis.

methodsThis qualitative study of semi-structured interviews was conducted at an orthopedic research institute in Italy. The interview track was developed by a team of professionals (physiotherapists, orthopedic surgeon, psychologist) and consisted of 40 questions. Fifteen patients, 10 females and 5 males aged between 23 and 80 years, waiting for spinal arthrodesis were interviewed. The interviews were performed, transcribed and analyzed by the multiprofessional team through thematic analysis using a reflexive approach.

resultsFive main themes were generated: (1) Impact of persistent pain on patients' physical and psychological functioning; (2) Fear of the unknown and uncertainties; (3) Hope and regaining normality; (4) The impact of the unpredictability of the waiting time; (5) Need for better communication and information on the care pathway. Two minor themes were also produced.

conclusionsThese findings highlighted that patients on the waiting list for spinal arthrodesis need more certainty about waiting times, better communication with hospital staff, more thorough information about their care pathway. This could help patients feel more confident and may lead to more adequate expectations before surgery.

trial registrationThe study protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov database on 14/03/2022 with ID number NCT06323694.

Indexed as

Spinal FusionWaiting ListsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overArthrodesisFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicItalyMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeYoung AdultArthrodesisEmotionsHealth-related quality of lifePre-operativeSpinal surgeryWaitlist

Identifiers

PMID39648235

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.