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Care-seeking among individuals with chronic low back pain
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Study Design:
This was a stratified, random telephone survey of adults in North Carolina.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of chronic low back pain and the extent to which treatment is sought for this condition.
Summary Of Background Data:
Chronic low back pain is a major problem. Previous studies often have combined acute and chronic back pain.
Methods:
Telephone interviews regarding back pain were conducted with 4437 North Carolina adults during 1992.
Results:
Chronic back pain affects 3.9% of the North Carolina population. Thirty-four percent considered themselves permanently disabled and 52% assessed their overall health as fair or poor. The median number of bed-disability days per year was three. Seventy-three percent saw a health care provider. Of those who sought care, 91% saw a medical doctor, 29% saw a physical therapist, and 25% saw a chiropractor. Use of technology was extensive: 37% received a computed tomography scan, 25% received a magnetic resonance imaging scan, and 10.4% underwent surgery.
Conclusions:
Chronic back pain is common, and the level of care-seeking and costs of care among those afflicted are extremely high.