Reasons for repeated medical visits among patients with chronic back pain

• Published in: Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 289 - 295
• Main Authors: MCPHILLIPS-TANGUM, C. A, CHERKIN, D. C, RHODES, L. A, MARKHAM, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.05.1998; Springer Nature B.V; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Back pain; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Georgia - epidemiology; Health care; Health Maintenance Organizations - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Independent practice associations; Internal medicine; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Low Back Pain - epidemiology; Low Back Pain - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Motivation; Office Visits - statistics & numerical data; Original; Patient Satisfaction; Physicians; Primary care; Surgeons; Texas - epidemiology; Washington - epidemiology; United States; North America; America; Texas; Washington; Georgia; Atlanta Georgia; United States > US; Human; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Etiopathogenesis; Spine disease; Epidemiology; Chronic; Mail inquiry; Motivation; Dorsalgia; Medical prescription; Rachialgia; Dorsal spine; Public health
• ISSN: 0884-8734; 1525-1497
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00093.x

This study identifies the key motivations of patients repeatedly seeking medical care for chronic back problems. We conducted one-on-one, in-depth interviews with patients to discuss their experiences with low back pain and its care. To validate our interpretation of the qualitative data, participants were mailed questionnaires listing the themes identified in the interviews and asked to rate the importance to them of each of the themes. Managed health care plans in Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle. Fifty-four patients (37% male, 63% female) who were 25 to 65 years of age and had three or more medically attended episodes of low back pain during the 3 years preceding the study. In describing their motivations for seeking medical care for back pain, nearly all participants cited difficulty in performing normal activities and the desire to discover the cause of the pain. Other motivations for seeking medical care for back pain included increased pain and the desire for a diagnostic test or a new treatment. Many of the verbalized reasons for repeated medical visits among patients with chronic back pain are probably best understood as seeking validation of their suffering. Patients with chronic back pain report many unmet needs and expectations. Overall satisfaction might be improved if clinicians elicit patients' views of underlying causes and their expectations from office visits.