Lumbar disc herniation in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial: does educational attainment impact outcome?

ABSTRACT:

Study design

Randomized trial with concurrent observational cohort. A total of 1171 patients were divided into subgroups by educational attainment: high school or less, some college, and college degree or above.

Objective

To assess the influence of education level on outcomes for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

Summary of background data

Educational attainment has been demonstrated to have an inverse relationship with pain perception, comorbidities, and mortality.

Methods

The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial enrolled surgical candidates (imaging-confirmed disc herniation with at least 6 weeks of persistent signs and symptoms of radiculopathy) from 13 multidisciplinary spine clinics in 11 US states. Treatments were standard open discectomy versus nonop

SUBMITTER: Olson PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3107370 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature