Prevalence, practice patterns, and evidence for chronic neck pain.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Chronic neck pain affects a significant portion of the adult population.
• Understanding healthcare utilization patterns is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Evidence-based practice guidelines are essential for managing chronic pain effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of chronic neck pain in North Carolina.
• To describe healthcare services utilized by individuals with chronic neck pain.
• To compare current healthcare practices with evidence-based recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional telephone survey of a representative North Carolina household sample in 2006.
• Identified 141 noninstitutionalized adults (≥21 years) with chronic neck pain and no chronic low back pain.
• Collected data on provider visits, diagnostic tests, and treatments; compared with systematic reviews.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of chronic neck pain in North Carolina was 2.2% (95% CI 1.7-2.6).
• Affected individuals were middle-aged, predominantly women and non-Hispanic white.
• Patients averaged 5.21 provider types and 21 visits, with many receiving treatments of unclear benefit (e.g., electrotherapy, massage, heat/cold).

Conclusions:

• Significant overutilization of diagnostic testing and certain treatments (e.g., narcotics, modalities) was observed.
• Effective treatments, such as therapeutic exercise, were underutilized.
• Healthcare practices for chronic neck pain often deviate from current best evidence.