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[Back pain outpatient clinic--preliminary experiences from Aust-Agder]
1Revmatologisk avdeling Serviceboks 605 Aust-Agder sykehus 4809 Arendal. dag.soldal@aassh.no
Background:
Back pain is a major health problem and the most important disorder associated with sickness absence. This report presents experiences from a back pain outpatient clinic.
Material And Methods:
We collected demographic data, diagnoses on the referrals (ICPC) and in the outpatient clinic (ICD-9) and recommendations given to 206 patients, referred 1 January to 30 April 1998.
Results:
41% were women (mean age 45), 59% men (mean age 44). Mean waiting time before appointment was 35 days compared to 49 days before the clinic was opened. 43% were prioritized for an appointment within two weeks; mean waiting time in this group was 16 days. 125 (63%) of 200 were referred with non-specific low back pain. Of these, 99 (79%) were given the same diagnosis in the clinic. 75 (37%) had a referral diagnosis of lumbar disk injury with radiation, of whom 46 (61%) were diagnosed with lumbar nuclear prolapse or lumbar spinal stenosis in the clinic.
Interpretation:
An outpatient clinic may be a useful way to organise the specialist health service system for back pain patients.