Comfortably numb? Exploring satisfaction with chronic back pain visits

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pain Management
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Chronic low back pain (LBP) significantly contributes to disability, healthcare utilization, and associated costs.
• Understanding patient satisfaction is crucial for improving healthcare delivery for chronic LBP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with patient satisfaction during healthcare visits for chronic low back pain (LBP).
• To explore the relationship between patient characteristics and satisfaction with LBP care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, state-level telephone survey was conducted with 624 individuals experiencing chronic LBP.
• Data collected included patient demographics, pain ratings, functional status (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire), mental and physical health (SF-12), and healthcare utilization.
• Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between patient characteristics and satisfaction with their last LBP healthcare visit.

Main Results:

• Lower patient satisfaction was associated with younger age, higher pain ratings, Hispanic ethnicity, and lack of insurance.
• Intent to seek additional care was linked to younger age, higher pain, lower SF-12 scores (mental and physical), Black ethnicity, and lack of insurance.
• Narcotic use correlated positively with satisfaction (OR=2.12, p=.01), while lack of insurance predicted intent to seek further care (OR=2.97, p<.01).

Conclusions:

• Factors beyond disability significantly influence patient satisfaction with chronic low back pain (LBP) healthcare visits.
• The role of medication in patient satisfaction and its impact on health behaviors for this population warrants further investigation.
• Addressing non-clinical factors like insurance status and pain perception is essential for enhancing patient experience in LBP care.