Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40519793›Full record

ArticleInterventional pain medicine2025

Perspectives on treatment decision-making across racial groups in adults with degenerative lumbar disease - A pilot study.

Emmy Duerr, Emily Rodriguez, Meron Nephtalem, Emmanuel Mensah, John R Duffy, Thomas Cha, Jessica Aidlen, Chadi Tannoury, Michael D Perloff, Keren Ladin and 2 more

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Article in Interventional pain medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Emmy DuerrDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Emily RodriguezDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Meron NephtalemBoston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Emmanuel MensahDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
John R DuffyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Thomas ChaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Jessica AidlenDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, USA.
Chadi TannouryDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael D PerloffDepartment of Neurology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Keren LadinDepartment of Occupational Therapy and Community Health, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, Research on Ethics, Aging, and Community Health (REACH Lab), Boston, MA, USA.
David HaoDepartment of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Theresa WilliamsonDepartment of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Degenerative lumbar spine disease significantly impairs quality of life, yet racial and socioeconomic disparities in surgical treatment persist, particularly among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) patients, who often experience worse outcomes and are less likely to undergo surgery despite similar or higher pain levels. Objectives: This study explored factors that influence treatment decisions among BIPOC and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, with a focus on understanding how these factors may contribute to disparities in surgical care utilization. Methods: An explorative qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 20 patients (10 BIPOC, 10 NHW) considering lumbar spine surgery for spinal stenosis or disc herniation at three major academic institutions in Massachusetts. Thematic analysis identified key themes related to emotional suffering, financial concerns, support systems, and familiarity with spine surgery. Results: BIPOC patients expressed greater anxiety about surgery, often shaped by prior negative healthcare experiences and broader systemic mistrust. Financial and occupational concerns were more significant for BIPOC patients, who frequently prioritized employment over symptom relief. In contrast, NHW patients more often cited quality-of-life goals as their primary motivator. While perception of support systems were comparable between the groups, emotional suffering was universally reported emotional suffering, with participants using terms such as "miserable," "scared," "embarrassed," and "ashamed." Conclusion: Emotional, financial, and trust-related differences shape surgical decision-making among racially and ethnically diverse patients with lumbar spine disease. Incorporating culturally responsive communication strategies and decision aids that address patients fears, values, and social contexts may enhance shared decision-making and promote more equitable access to spine surgery.

Indexed as

Degenerative lumbar spine diseaseQualitative analysisRacial disparitiesShared decision-makingSpine surgery

Identifiers

PMID40519793
PMCPMC12167451

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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.