Self-management of chronic neck and low back pain and relevance of information provided during clinical encounters: an observational study.

Full Abstract

Escolar-Reina P, Medina-Mirapeix F, Gascón-Cánovas JJ, Montilla-Herrador J, Valera-Garrido JF, Collins SM. Self-management of chronic neck and low back pain and relevance of information provided during clinical encounters: an observational study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative influence of information provided during physical therapy on a patient's adherence to self-management strategies in relation to other predictors of adherence (patient and pain characteristics, use of self-management strategies before intervention). DESIGN: A longitudinal observational study of the relationship between the information provided during physical therapy and adherence to self-management strategies. SETTING: Data came from a clinical-based population in 8 primary health care centers. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=184) with chronic neck or low back pain (77% under the age of 59y) were surveyed at the beginning and 1 month after completion of physical therapy. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Specific and overall adherence to 2 types of strategies: (1) nonpharmacologic pain management strategies, and (2) neck/back care in activities of daily life. RESULTS: Adherence to strategies of nonpharmacologic self-management of pain was more probable when patients received information explaining the effectiveness of the self-management strategies (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=10.1; P<.05) and information about their illness (AOR=3.4; P<.05) during clinical encounters. Information provided by the physical therapist did not have any influence on the adherence to neck/back care in activity of daily life (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Information provided during clinical encounters is associated with adherence to different kinds of self-management strategies. While further study is required, it is suggested that more attention be given to clinical practice strategies for improving adherence to self-management of chronic pain.

Author information

Author/s: Escolar-Reina, Pilar (P); Medina-Mirapeix, Francesc (F); Gascón-Cánovas, Juan J (JJ); Montilla-Herrador, Joaquina (J); Valera-Garrido, J Fermín (JF); Collins, Sean M (SM);

Affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. pescolar(-atsign-)um.es

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 90 (issue 10) : pp 1734-9

Dates: Created 2009/10/05; Completed 2009/10/22;

PMID: 19801064, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/22/2009, IMS Date: )

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