Table 6 Knowledge items and physician opinions on clinical decisions

1. For most patients with lumbar intervertebral disc displacement, how likely is doing normal activities to make their herniated disc symptoms worse?

Likely

100 (82)

Not very likely

22 (18)

2. Without surgery, over time, do back and leg pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement usually improve, stay the same, or deteriorate?

Improves

115 (93.5)

Stays the same

6 (4.9)

Deteriorates

2 (1.6)

3. With surgery, over time, do back and leg pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement usually improve, stay the same, or deteriorate?

Improves

57 (46.3)

Stays the same

36 (29.3)

Deteriorates

30 (24.4)

4. Can lots of bed rest help relieve pain in some patients with pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement?

Yes

116 (95.1)

No

6 (4.9)

5. Can over-the-counter pain medicine help relieve pain in some patients with pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement?

Yes

100 (81.3)

No

23 (18.7)

6. Which treatment is more likely to provide swifter relief from pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement?

Non-invasive care

68 (55.7)

Surgery

36 (29.5)

Both are similar

18 (14.8)

7. Of 100 patients who receive surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc displacement, about how many patients will experience equal or more back or leg pain after surgery?

(number of people)

23.3 ± 17.7

8. Of 100 patients who receive surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc displacement, about how many patients will experience serious complications within 3 months of surgery?

(number of people)

12.5 ± 13.7

9. Without surgery, about how many patients with lumbar intervertebral disc displacement will develop permanent loss of motor function severe enough to keep them from walking?

(number of people)

3.3 ± 9.1

10. In the long term (5 years), which treatment is better at relieving pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc displacement?

Non-invasive care

121 (99.2)

Surgery

-

Both are similar

1 (0.8)