The Global Spine Care Initiative: resources to implement a spine care program

Area of Science:

• Global health
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Healthcare systems development

Background:

• Spine-related concerns pose a significant global health challenge.
• Effective management is often limited in low-resource settings.
• A standardized approach to resource allocation is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive list of resources for implementing a global spine care model.
• To prioritize resource needs for underserved communities and low- and middle-income countries.

Main Methods:

• Utilized content from the Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI) Classification System and care pathway papers.
• Developed a seed document outlining resources for various care settings (primary to tertiary, self-care, community-based).
• Employed an iterative expert consensus process using electronic surveys with 35 international experts over two rounds.

Main Results:

• A consensus-based checklist of essential resources was established.
• Categories include healthcare provider knowledge/skills, materials/equipment, human resources, and facilities/infrastructure.
• The list identifies resources tailored to community spine care needs.

Conclusions:

• This represents the first international, interprofessional effort to list resources for evidence-based spine care pathways.
• The resource list requires field testing in diverse communities to validate its utility.
• The findings aim to guide the implementation of spine care programs globally.