A description and comparison of treatments for low back pain in the United States

Elizabeth Salt, Yevgeniya Gokun, Anna Rankin Kerr, Jeffery Talbert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low back pain (LBP), a prevalent costly condition, has evidence-based pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. Because the prevalence of LBP and the use of opioids differ between the U.S. Census Regions, we compared the treatments used for LBP and their related costs between regions. METHODS: Deidentifi ed patient health claims data from persons with LBP along with treatments received were extracted from a large commercially insured data set (2007- 2009; N = 1,630,438). Descriptive statistics and analyses of variance were used during data analysis. RESULTS: An opioid was used by 49.8% ( n = 812,479) of this sample, whereas nonpharmacological therapies were used less frequently (8%, psychological therapies; 19%, exercise therapies; 12%, physical therapy). The median costs for pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments are variable. We found signifi cant differences in the medications and therapies used in the U.S. Census Regions ( p < .0001). CONCLUSION: Overuse of pharmacological treatment and underuse of nonpharmacological treatment are common among persons with LBP. Differences exist in the receipt of various LBP treatments geographically.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)214-221
Number of pages8
JournalOrthopaedic Nursing
Volume35
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 26 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

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