Comparison of the Effects of Body Mechanics Education Methods on Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Study

Educating patients undergoing surgery for LDH is important to maintain the proper performance of body mechanics. The study compared the effects of standard, brochure-based, and video-based education on postoperative pain, disability, and the quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc herniation. This was a randomized controlled study. The study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery of a training and research hospital in Turkey. Sixty patients (n = 20 control, n = 20 video, n = 20 brochure) undergoing surgery for LDH who volunteered to participate. The study was carried out between 15 January and 30 July 2017. The data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively using the Patients’ Characteristics Form, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Physical Functioning and Bodily Pain subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and the Survey of Patient Satisfaction with Clinical Education and Materials. All three groups were similar in terms of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Preoperative scores obtained from the ODI, SF-MPQ, and the two subscales of the SF-36 were not significantly different. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the video group (81.5 ± 24.3) and the control group (67.7 ± 18.6) in terms of the Physical Functioning subscale of the SF-36 in the postoperative period (p< .05). Preoperative education on body mechanics increases the physical functioning of patients with LDH and facilitates the integration of information into their daily activities.