Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies

 Accardi-Ravid et al. (2019) [15]

Preoperative and postoperative experiences of spine surgery including perioperative expectations, emotional experiences, long-term recovery, postoperative outcomes, interest in perioperative psychosocial interventions, and potential barriers and facilitators to participating in an intervention

14 patients who had spine surgery

57.3 (SD 15.7)

6 (42.9)

Semi-structured interviews

2–12 mo post-operatively

 Lattig et al. (2013) [16]

Preoperative expectations of the short-term results in relation to pain, pain medication usage, sensory and motor function, and the ability to work, do household activities, and participate in sports

Patient-surgeon discrepancies in expectations

241 patients (15-90y) undergoing spine surgery

62 (15)

133 (59)

Survey

After preoperative consultation

 Licina et al. (2012) [17]

Expectations of the surgical treatment (level of back and leg pain, and disability), and satisfaction with postoperative results

145 patients scheduled for primary, single-level surgery for degenerative lumbar spine conditions

54 (15)

54 (37)

Survey

Preoperatively | 6 w/6 mo post-operatively

 Mancuso et al. (2014) [18]

Long-term expectations of surgery as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, and associations with demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics

150 patients (≥18y) scheduled for cervical spine surgery

55 (13)

59 (39)

Interview (about survey)

Preoperatively

 Mancuso et al. (2015) [19]

Associations between expectations as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey, and demographic, psychological, and clinical characteristics

420 patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar spine surgery

55 (15)

181 (43)

Interview (about survey)

±7 d post-operatively

 Mancuso et al. (2016) [20]

Preoperatively stated expectations as measured with the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey and fulfillment of expectations post-operatively

Patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar (n = 366) or cervical (n = 133) spine surgery

Lumbar:

55 (SD 15)

157 (43)

Cervical:

54 (SD 13)

51 (133)

Survey: ±7 d preoperatively

Interview (telephone): 2 y post-operatively

 Mancuso et al. (2017) [21]

Patient and clinical characteristics, including the 20-item Hospital for Special Surgery, Lumbar/Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey, and pain improvement post-operatively

422 patients (≥18y) scheduled for lumbar spine surgery

56 (15)

190 (45)

Interview (structured): ±7 d preoperatively

Interview (telephone): 2 y post- operatively

 Mannion et al. (2009) [22]

Preoperative expectations as measured with a modified version of the “expectations scale” of the North American Spine Society (NASS) Lumbar Spine Questionnaire, changes in symptoms, and expectations being fulfilled

100 patients (>45y) with lumbar herniated disc or spinal stenosis, indication for decompression surgery without fusion

65 (SD 11)

33 (33)

Survey

Preoperatively | 2 mo/12 mo post-operatively

 McGregor et al. (2013) [23]

Preoperative expectations (e.g. state of health and their levels of back and leg pain) and importance of achieving this level of recovery, and satisfaction with the short and longer term outcome of surgery (in terms of pain and QoL)

316 patients scheduled for lumbar decompression or discectomy because of lateral nerve root compression or lumbar disc prolapse

range 53–55

170 (54)

Survey

Preoperatively | 6 w/6 mo/12 mo post-operatively

 Rehman et al. (2019) [24]

Preoperative expectations and the spine surgeon’s perspectives regarding treatment understanding, postoperative outcomes and information required for informed decision-making

12 patients (≥18y) with sciatica, scheduled for surgical decompression

6 surgeons

Patients:

median 48

(range 24–74)

5 (43)

Surgeons:

median 50

(range 45–68)-

Semi-structured interviews

3–4 w after consultation, but preoperatively

 Rönnberg et al. (2007) [25]

Relationships between baseline characteristics and expectations of surgical results (leg pain, back pain, sensibility, return to work), and satisfaction with provided care and given information

148 patients who had undergone surgery for a one-level disc herniation on the L4 –L5 or L5–S1 level

40 (range 18–66)

68 (46)

Survey

Preoperatively | 2 y post-operatively

 Saban and Penckofer (2007) [6]

Relationship between preoperative expectations of QoL, and postoperative perceived QOL and level of satisfaction and optimism

57 patients (≥18y) undergoing elective lumbar surgery for the first time for degenerative changes, herniated disks, or both

53.4 (SD 13.6)

30 (52.6)

Survey

2–14 d preoperatively | 3 m post-operatively

 Soroceanu et al. (2012) [26]

Relationship between expectations as measured with the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System’s (MODEMS) expectations survey, and outcomes in the cervical versus the lumbar spine population

402 patients undergoing lumbar or cervical spine surgery

52.9 (15.2)

226 (56.3)

Survey

Preoperatively | 6–12 w post-operatively

 Toyone et al. (2005) [27]

Patient expectations of spine surgery including relief of leg pain, leg numbness and low back pain, and limitations in walking ability and activity of daily living, and the level of fulfillment of those expectations

Patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation (n = 49) or lumbar spinal stenosis (n = 49)

Disc herniation:

36

15 (31)

Spinal stenosis:

67

22 (45)

Survey

Preoperatively | 2 y post-operatively

 van der Horst et al. (2019) [28]

Pre-operative expectations and perceptions, and post-operative experiences (e.g. limitations in daily functioning due to their back pain, other health complaints)

12 patients (≥18y) who had spinal fusion in last 6 mo

-

6 (50)

Survey

0–9 mo post-operatively

 Yee et al. (2008) [29]

Expectations of surgery (regarding relief of back and leg pain, relief of numbness/weakness/instability, their ability to sleep, recreational and daily activities, and return to work), and its association with patient factors, baseline preoperative functional outcome scores and patient-reported improvements in functional outcome after surgery

143 patients undergoing decompression and/or spondylodesis (spinal fusion)

52 (range 18–84)

50%

Survey

Preoperatively | 6 w/3 mo/6 mo/12 mo post-operatively

 Yoo et al. (2019) [30]

Preoperative expectations and postoperative outcomes, and the effect on postoperative satisfaction

101 patients (>18y) undergoing 1- or 2-level minimally invasive spinal lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative pathology

57

43 (42.6)

Survey

Preoperatively | 6 mo post-operatively

 Bergerot et al. (2019) [31]

Association between expectations of cure and QoL, anxiety and depression

60 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma or prostate cancer

65.1 (SD 13.1; range 31–91)

19 (31.7)

Survey

Prior to immunotherapy and before counseling from their oncologist

 Chen et al. (2013) [32]

Expectations about the goals of, and likelihood of cure from radiotherapy

384 patients with incurable lung cancer (stage IV or IIIB)

median: 63

154 (40)

Telephone survey

4–7 mo post-diagnosis

 Chow et al. (2001) [33]

Illness understanding and expectations of palliative radiotherapy

60 patients with advanced cancer, referred for palliative radiotherapy

median 68 (range 46–90)

30 (50)

Survey

Pre-consultation

 Chow et al. (2007) [34]

Expected level of pain reduction, and influence of bone pain and having undergone the treatment on this expectation

217 patients (≥18y) with bone metastases, treated with palliative RT

median: 66 (range 28–88)

87 (40)

Interview

Pre-radiation | 2 mo post-radiation

 Craft et al. (2005) [35]

Understanding of the intent of their treatment (to monitor illness, improve QoL, control illness or cure illness) and that their illness was life-threatening, and sources of information

163 patients (>18y) with advanced cancer

-

89 (55)

Survey

Week 1 and 12

 Doyle et al. (2001) [36]

Patient expectations and perceptions of benefit

26 patients with recurrent or refractory advanced ovarian cancer, undergoing 2nd or 3nd line chemotherapy for

median: 55

26 (100)

Surgery

Before chemotherapy

 Friedlander et al. (2014) [37]

Symptom burden, and expected and perceived benefits of chemotherapy

126 patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer and a life expectancy of > 3 mo, scheduled for chemotherapy

62 (range 30–89)

126 (100)

Survey

< 2 w before chemotherapy | before each cycle | 4 w after 4th cycle

 Gramling et al. (2016) [38]

Association between talking about expectations for length of life during inpatient palliative care consultations and rates of hospice enrollment

101 hospitalized patients (>21y) with metastatic cancer, referred for palliative care consultation

-

50 (43.5)

Audio-recording of the consultation

 Mitera et al. (2012) [39]

Illness understanding and expectations of palliative radiotherapy

100 patients with advanced cancer, referred for a palliative radiotherapy consultation

66.2 (11.3)

44 (44)

Survey

Pre-consultation / Post-consultation

 Nowicki et al. (2015) [40]

Understanding and expectations of treatment, and socio-demographic factors

100 patients with lung cancer and a life expectancy of > 6 mo, undergoing palliative chemotherapy and an

63.1 (range 40–80)

34 (34)

Survey

?

 Sjoquist et al. (2013) [41]

We explored associations among expected improvement, hope and indices of well-being, and perceived symptom benefits of chemotherapy

126 patients (≥18y) with recurrent and progressive ovarian cancer and a life expectancy of ≥3 mo

62.1 (9.8)

126 (100)

Survey

Prior to chemotherapy | first four treatment cycles | 4 w post-treatment

 Sze et al. (2006) [42]

Factors important in decision making for whole-brain radiation therapy for patients and caregivers

20 patients (or caregivers) with brain metastases within the past 2 mo, consideration of brain radiotherapy

median: 62 (range 50–72)

5 (25)

Open-ended, semistructured interviews

Within 2 w after consultation

 Visser et al. (2018) [43]

Satisfaction with therapy as measured with the Cancer Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (CTSQ), and patient- and treatment-related factors and patients’ feelings about adverse events

65 patients with locally advanced or metastatic stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous NSCLC, undergoing chemotherapy

62.1 (7.9)

50 (50)

Survey

During 4th cycle of chemotherapy

 Weeks et al. (2012) [44]

Expectation that chemotherapy might be curative and associated clinical, sociodemographic, and health-system factors, and physician communication

Patients with stage IV (i.e., metastatic) lung (n = 710) or colorectal cancer (n = 483), opted to receive chemotherapy

-

Lung: 476 (67)

Colorectal: 396 (82)

Structured interview

4–7 mo post-diagnosis