Interdisciplinary Practice Models for Older Adults With Back Pain: A Qualitative Evaluation
Stacie A Salsbury1, Christine M Goertz1, Robert D Vining1
1Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa.
The Gerontologist
|January 14, 2017
Summary
Collaborative care between family medicine physicians and chiropractors is feasible for older adults with low back pain. This patient-centered model improves interprofessional collaboration and information flow for better health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Integrative Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Older adults often experience low back pain managed by multiple uncoordinated providers.
- Effective management requires interprofessional collaboration between different healthcare disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a patient-centered practice model for low back pain in older adults.
- To identify facilitators for interprofessional collaboration between family medicine physicians and doctors of chiropractic.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative evaluation within a randomized controlled trial of 3 back pain management models.
- Data collected via clinician interviews, chart abstractions, and fieldnotes.
- Analysis using qualitative content analysis and an organizational-level framework.
Main Results:
- Clinicians were receptive to interprofessional education and learning about colleagues' approaches.
- High volumes of clinical records were exchanged, though logistics were cumbersome.
- Team-based case management improved information flow, social support, and patient-provider interaction.
Conclusions:
- Family medicine residents and chiropractors found collaborative care a useful model for older adults with back pain.
- Healthcare organizations can adapt this model for medical and chiropractic collaboration.
- Older patients can act as catalysts for interprofessional collaboration.
