title: ["Back pain coach". A project for patients with back pain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Back pain is a challenge for case management but is a health insurance fund (HIF) that identifies high risk patients and includes them in a back pain assessment and a multimodal program cost-effective?
  
  
  METHODS
  Case managers of a HIF contacted selected patients and requested information on pain and current perspectives. Patients in the intervention group were offered a multimodal assessment and, if applicable, a multimodal treatment program. Control group patients received verbal or written (back book) information. Cost data were evaluated with respect to the interview data 1 year prior and 1 year afterwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 800 insured persons contacted 621 were nationwide, 88 were regional controls and 91 were intervention patients. Inability to work was still rising in all groups but less in the intervention group versus both control groups. Drugs, hospital as well as cure/adjuvant costs were less for intervention patients than in both control groups. The investment for the program was thus more than refinanced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Case management was well accepted but the intervention was in need of training for case managers and the specific diagnostic and treatment option regionally.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The HIF was responsible for the study investment and project partners shared the training of the HIF regional case managers.
authors.affiliation: CLARA Klinische Forschung, Clara-Zetkin-Str. 34, 14532, Kleinmachnow, Deutschland. gabriele.lindena@clara-klifo.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindena
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Marnitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010174:Pamphlets; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D012944:Social Support