L OPPOSITE: DR STEPHENSON WITH PATIENT ow back pain is one of the most common symptoms patients visit their doctor for on the Gold Coast. From long-term, severe pain to ‘putting your back out’ from a sneeze, there are a variety of conditions associated with the complex network of muscles, nerves, bones, discs and tendons which may be involved in causing low back pain. Pindara Private Hospital’s international research into surgery for this common ailment has proven popular among patients, with more than 100 participants signed up to complete the study since it was launched last year. The study focuses on tracking the outcomes of spinal surgery treatment undertaken by some of Queensland’s leading neurosurgeons and benchmarking these outcomes against other international organisations or, in other words, compiling information to help surgeons accurately predict the expected improvement for the patient from different spinal surgeries. Pindara was the first hospital in Australia to launch this world-class research ten months ago, which is part of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) global collaboration to measure patient outcomes. Lead investigator on the study, Neurosurgeon Dr Leong Tan said people with low back pain need the best information to make informed decisions about the expected outcomes of spinal surgery. “The data gathered in this project focuses on what matters most to patients. Patients want to know how they will fare after treatment, can they return to work and whether they will need pain medication, require additional treatment, be able to take care of themselves and most importantly, will their symptoms improve? “This study will help to guide the medical profession globally in choosing the best types of surgery for specific spinal conditions because benchmarking articulates what treatment works best for the various types of conditions,” he said. Data Analyst for the study Kylie Mills says that the use of technology such as tablets and online forms has allowed for such a positive response. “We have a unique use of technology in the study which has been used to enable patients easy and fast capture of data.” “It has been fantastic to get feedback from our patients about their experiences at the hospital and how their lives have been changed by their treatments. “We have entered the follow-up phase of our study and our initial results are looking promising. We are happy to see improvements in many aspects of patients’ lives including pain, physical health outcomes and most importantly in quality of life indicators. “We follow up with patients several times after surgery within a two-year time frame so this study will continue for several years to get a really good picture of our patients’ lives before and after surgery,” said Dr Mills. CEO of Pindara Private Hospital, Trish Hogan, said outcomes that matter most to patients are the ultimate success in health care. “There can be a considerable difference between what a health professional considers a successful treatment outcome, compared to the patient. When we can achieve what matters most to the patient, we deliver true value. “Taking part in this international research is very exciting for Pindara,” she said. BELOW: DR TAN WITH PATIENT “It enables Pindara to contribute to important global research in low back pain, and to share with specialists from around the world in order to make improvements in the treatment of low back pain.” Pindara Private hospital has specialist expertise in spinal surgery. The hospital has a dedicated Neurosciences Unit which is serviced by an excellent team of neurosurgeons and orthopaedic specialists. Pindara Neurosurgeon Dr Leong Tan leads the study and is joined by colleagues Drs Ellison Stephenson, Chris Schwindack and Anna Chang. As an ICHOM partner, Pindara Private Hospital is in the good company of leading medical institutions, including the Boston Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, and Erasmus MC in the Netherlands. pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 33
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Ten
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