title: [Efficacy, utility and cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary treatment for chronic low back pain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Qualitative criteria, such as efficacy, utility and cost-effectiveness are essential for insurance and reimbursement companies to meet the costs for a multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) for persons with chronic low back pain (CLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search concerning the qualitative criteria of MDT for CLBP presents an overview of the current literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search revealed 8 systematic reviews which document a moderate efficacy of MDT as a treatment for persons with CLBP although some reported restrictions. Analysis of 6 studies that have not yet been included in previous reviews confirmed the findings from these reviews. The comparison of conservative and surgical treatment for CLBP revealed that long-term outcomes hardly differed in quality, whereas surgical treatment was more expensive and contained more and higher risks. References on moderate to high cost-effectiveness of MDT are represented in 3 original studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MDT of CLBP is moderately efficient, purposeful, cost-effective and demonstrate an alternative treatment form to surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie, Universität Bern, Muesmattstr. 45, 3000 Bern, Schweiz. cornelia.rolli@psy.unibe.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolli Salathé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfering
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melloh
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome