A new study published in Spine examines the impact of preoperative depression on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores among lumbar fusion patients.
The study authors collected data from the preoperative Patient Health Questionnaire 9 scores to define depression, with a score of 10 or greater. There were 237 patients participating in the study. The study authors found:
1. The depressed patients were more likely younger and female as well as on disability. The depressed patients also reported lower EuroQol five dimension scores and Pain Disability Questionnaire scores before surgery.
2. Nearly three-quarters of the depressed patients reported their physicians treated them with respect, but that was still fewer than the 88.8 percent of non-depressed patients who reported feeling their physicians treated them respectfully.
3. The depressed patients were more likely to feel their nurses didn't treat them respectfully or listen carefully to them.
4. Depression independently predicted lower patient satisfaction with nurses responding to their needs, the study authors found after conducting a multivariate analysis.
5. The study authors concluded, "In patients undergoing lumbar fusion, preoperative depression was shown to have negative effect on patient experience measures by the HCAHPS survey. These results suggest that depression may be a modifiable risk factor for poor hospital experience."