CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-BACK-PAIN PATIENTS WHO DO NOT COMPLETE PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT

Patients' problems in following recommendations of health professional s is an issue of great concern. The purpose of the present study was t o investigate whether patients with low back pain (n = 46) who dropped out of a treatment programme differed in characteristics measured pri or to treatment from a matched comparison group (n = 46) who completed the programme. Data collected on work disability and sick leave, freq uency, duration and intensity of pain, physical function, and personal ity characteristics were compared. The results indicated that the grou ps differed significantly on 3 of 16 variables. The non-completers had been on sick leave for a longer time period prior to treatment, exper ienced more intense pain and performed at a lower level on the test of physical function than those who completed the treatment programme.