Running Title: Standardized Care After Back Surgery

Hawler Medical University70 enrolled

Overview

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a standardized care program on pain, disability, and patient knowledge among postoperative back-surgery patients in Erbil, Iraq.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Back Surgery Pain Back Pain Disabilities

Interventions

Standardized Educational Care ProgramBEHAVIORAL

A structured, standardized educational care program is delivered to patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. The program includes preoperative and postoperative education on pain management, wound care, early mobilization, activity modification, proper body mechanics, medication adherence, prevention of complications, and discharge instructions. Education is provided verbally and through written materials.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults between 18 and 60 years of age, of either sex, scheduled for elective thoracic (T1) to lumbar (L5) spine surgery, able to communicate in Kurdish or Arabic, and capable of providing informed consent. Only those willing to complete all follow-up assessments were enrolled to ensure complete data collection. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who were admitted for emergency procedures, or had cognitive impairments that could interfere with comprehension of instructions. Additional exclusion criteria included revision or second-time back surgeries and severe comorbid conditions, such as limb fractures or other major mobility-limiting issues that could affect postoperative recovery.

Locations (1)

Hawler Teaching Hospital

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Pain Intensity Score

Pain intensity was measured using the Universal Pain Assessment Tool (0-10 numeric rating scale). Higher scores indicate greater pain severity. The primary endpoint is the change in pain score from baseline (pre-intervention) to 8 weeks postoperatively.

Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks postoperatively

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Functional Disability Score

Functional disability assessed using the Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire (0-100 scale). Higher scores indicate greater disability. The outcome is the change from baseline to 8 weeks after surgery.

Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks postoperatively

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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