Reasons for repeated medical visits among patients with chronic back pain.
OBJECTIVE
This study identifies the key motivations of patients repeatedly seeking medical care for chronic back problems.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Managed health care plans in Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
McPhillips-Tangum
C A
CA
The Prudential Center for Health Care Research, Atlanta, GA 30030, USA.
Cherkin
D C
DC
Rhodes
L A
LA
Markham
C
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology