title: Expectations for treatment outcomes in neck/back patients regarding improvements in pain and function. A cross-sectional pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Literature has suggested that patients' pretreatment expectations may influence both prognosis and outcome. Investigation of these possible benefits requires knowledge about what is actually expected among these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate neck/back patients' expectations for treatment outcomes (pain and functional improvement) prior to their first meetings with specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  PMR Neck/Back Outpatient Clinic, Oslo University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with neck/back pain and/or functional problems referred for the first time to a neck/back PMR outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were completed prior to an appointment with a PMR specialist. The forms consisted of one earlier designed instrument (PSOE) and one self-constructed part with six 11-point numeric rating scales (11-NRS). Eligible patients were randomly selected between January and June 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 42 % expected their status to remain un-changed. A total of 17 % expected exacerbation of their status. No differences were found between expectations regarding pain and function. Full recovery was not expected. Highly educated patients, and those reporting high usage of analgesics, had higher expectations for improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few of the selected patients seemed to expect improvement. These expectations are quite pessimistic, in our opinion. More elaborate studies are needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway - sjskatte@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skatteboe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Røe
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fagerland
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Granan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009664:Norway; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics