The assessment and treatment of back and neck pain: an initial investigation in a primary care practice-based research network.

The assessment and treatment of back and neck pain: an initial investigation in a primary care practice-based research network.

Fischbein Rebecca; McCormick Kenelm; Selius Brian A; Schrop Susan Labuda; Hewit Michael; Baughman Kristin; Meeker James

Primary health care research & development

2015

2015-09

AIM: The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory examination of the current state of non-malignant acute and chronic back and neck pain assessment and management among primary care providers in a multi-site, practice-based research network. BACKGROUND: Acute and chronic pain are distinct conditions that often require different assessment and management approaches, however, little research has examined assessment and management of acute and chronic pain as separate conditions. The large majority of patients with acute and chronic back and neck pain are managed in primary care settings. Given the differences between acute and chronic pain, it is necessary to identify differences in patient characteristics, practitioner evaluation, treatment and management in primary care settings. METHODS: Over a two-week period, 24 practitioners in a multi-site practice-based research network completed 196 data cards about 39 patients experiencing acute back and neck pain and 157 patients suffering from chronic back and neck pain. Findings There were significant differences between the patients experiencing acute and chronic pain in regards to practitioner evaluation, current medication management and current treatment for depression. In addition, diagnostics differed between patients experiencing acute versus chronic back and neck pain. Further, primary care providers' review of online drug monitoring program reports during the current visit was associated with current medication management using short term opioids, long-term opioids or tramadol. Most research examining acute and chronic pain focuses on the low back. Additional research needs to be conducted to explore and compare acute and chronic pain across the whole spine.

*Research; 80 and over; acute back and neck pain; Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Back Pain; chronic back and neck pain; Chronic Pain; Chronic Pain/diagnosis/therapy; Female; Human; Humans; Logistic Regression; Low Back Pain; Low Back Pain/*diagnosis/*therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Neck Pain; Neck Pain/*diagnosis/*therapy; non-malignant back and neck pain; Pain Measurement; primary care providers; Primary Health Care; Primary Health Care/*methods; Prospective Studies; Surveys; T-Tests; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

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461–469

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