Effect of Patients' Education on Their Performance and Outcomes Regarding Lumbar Disk Herniation

Abstract

Context: Lumbar disc herniation is a common condition in adults and can impose a heavy burden on both the individual and society. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of patients' education on their performance and outcomes regarding lumbar disk herniation.
Methods: Quasi-experimental design was used to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at the orthopedic outpatient clinic at Benha University Hospital. A purposive sample of 60 patients of both genders aged from (18-60 years old) included in the study. Patients who were attending surgical operations regarding lumbar disk herniation were excluded. Three tools were used to collect the study data. These are structured interview questionnaires regarding the patients' demographic characteristics, medical data, patient knowledge regarding lumbar disk herniation, an observational checklist for patient's practice regarding lumbar disk herniation exercises, and a modified Oswestry low back pain & disability scale.
Result: There was a statistically significant improvement in the total level of patient's knowledge, practices & outcomes immediately post and three months post-program implementation. Also, there was a significant statistical correlation between patients' knowledge and pain disability scale three months post-program implementation.
Conclusion: The study results conclude that the educational program was effective and resulted in a significant improvement in patients' knowledge, practice, and outcomes regarding lumbar disk herniation. The study suggested equipping the orthopedic department with simple illustrated guidelines protocol covering lumbar disc herniation practices, knowledge; reapply this research on a more substantial probability sample acquired from different geographical areas in Egypt for generalization.