title: Perceptions of provider communication and patient satisfaction for treatment of acute low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the relationship between perceptions of provider communication and treatment satisfaction for acute, work-related low-back pain (LBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, 544 working adults (67% men) with acute LBP provided 1- and 3-month assessments of pain, function, and work status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multiple regression analysis, positive provider communication (took problem seriously, explained condition clearly, tried to understand my job, advised to prevent re-injury) explained more variation in patient satisfaction at 1 month than was explained by clinical improvements in pain and function. At 3 months, clinical improvement variables surpassed provider communication as predictors of patient satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with work-related LBP place a high value on provider counseling and education, especially during the acute stage (<1 month) of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01748, USA. william.shaw@libertymutual.com
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaia
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pransky
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors