Outpatient management of low back pain

Low back pain affects 80% of adults some time in their lives. It is expensive, costing more than $16 billion per year, and causes 40-50% of all lost work days. A variety of disorders can cause low back pain, but the majority of time the problem is self-limiting and resolves within a few weeks. There are specific risk factors associated with low back pain, temporary measures that can be helpful to decrease discomfort, and specific ways to prevent future episodes. The most important management modality is education, and most patients are treated in the outpatient setting. Nursing care is frequently provided by telephone. Using the nursing process, the nurse can assess and advise patients in a systematic, timely manner while maintaining a nursing focus.