Correlation of a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire with Standard Outcome Instruments: an Analysis of 1,037 Patients

Routine collection of outcomes data after lumbar spine surgery at our institution has revealed, not uncommonly, discrepancies between outcomes instrument scores and patient's self-perceived improvement. For many years we have used the NASS five-item satisfaction questionnaire form, rating patients' satisfaction with results of their spine surgery. Concomittantly we have used well-validated and routine outcomes instruments scores including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland Morris Questionnaire (RM) for all patients undergoing low back spine surgery. Our impetus for analyzing the relationship between the 5-item self questionnaire versus the outcomes instruments scores was borne out of this perceived discordance.