"Do I need an imaging?" exploring why patients with non-specific chronic low back pain request diagnostic
Graziana Lullo1, Gabriele Giannotta2, Andrea Tamborrino1
1Department of Medicine and Health Science "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso, 86100, Italy.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate patient beliefs surrounding imaging for chronic non-specific low back pain (cLBP) when it is not clinically indicated.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with cLBP, and thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes from the interviews.
Results:
Eleven patients (6 females, 5 males, mean age 53 ± 15.66 years) participated in the study. Three main themes emerged: (1) cognitive dissonance: need to 'know the cause,' but recognition of multifactorial dimension of pain; (2) imaging as a treatment guide: seen as useful post-conservative treatment failure and (3) imaging has different consequences: reassuring for some; anxiety-inducing and misleading for others.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the importance of patient education regarding the limitations of diagnostic imaging for non-specific cLBP and the need for healthcare providers to communicate more effectively about alternative pain management strategies.
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