The long-term effects of a self-management program for inner-city primary care patients with acute low back pain.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the effect of a self-management program for low-income primary care patients with acute low back pain (ALBP) from inner-city neighborhood health centers.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a self-management program compared with usual care at university-affiliated neighborhood health centers and an emergency department of an inner-city public teaching hospital. We enrolled 211 patients who visited a physician for ALBP (<90 days' duration). The self-management program consisted of 3 group sessions and telephone follow-up that focused on understanding back pain, increasing physical activity, and dealing with fears and frustrations.


RESULTS
At baseline, 4 months, and 12 months, blinded interviewers assessed back pain physical function (Roland Disability Questionnaire), health status (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales), self-efficacy, and time spent in physical activity. Compared with patients receiving usual care, intervention patients reported significantly better scores on the Roland Disability Questionnaire (P =.009), mental functioning (P =.009), self-efficacy to manage ALBP (P =.03), time spent in physical activity (P =.047), and reduced fears of movement/reinjury (P =.005) after 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
A self-management program can improve and maintain functional status, mental functioning, and self-efficacy to manage future symptoms for 1 year among primary care patients with ALBP living in the urban, inner city.
Damush
Teresa M
TM
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute Inc., Indiana University School of Medicine, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2872, USA. tdamush@regenstrief.org
Weinberger
Morris
M
Perkins
Susan M
SM
Rao
Jaya K
JK
Tierney
William M
WM
Qi
Rong
R
Clark
Daniel O
DO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population