PATIENTS VIEWS OF LOW-BACK-PAIN AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

Background Low back pain is a common and persistent problem. Research studies seeking to improve the quality of management of this condition have tended to ignore the opinions of patients, There is a growing ac ceptance of the importance of taking patients' views into account in d eveloping management and educational programmes for a variety of condi tions. Aim. This study set out to elicit the views of patients concern ing low back pain and its management in general practice. Method. Fift y-two in-depth interviews were conducted with patients selected from a broad range of 12 general practices. Results. Analysis of the intervi ews identified seven themes relating to: quality of life, prognosis, s econdary prevention, help-seeking behaviour, explanation of underlying pathology, satisfaction with general practitioner management, and com plementary therapy. Different patient viewpoints or perspectives were expressed within each of these themes. Patients adapted to the progres s of their low back pain and were not seeking a 'magical cure' from ei ther conventional or complementary therapies. Conclusion. Patients' vi ews on low back pain are heterogeneous. The dissatisfaction expressed with medical explanations for the pain may be related to superficial c linical management and the constraints of general practice. Good manag ement of low back pain needs to take patients' complex views of the co ndition into account.