title: Initial management decisions after a new consultation for low back pain: implications of the usage of physical therapy for subsequent health care costs and utilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the utilization of physical therapy following a new primary care consultation for low back pain (LBP) and to examine the relations between physical therapy utilization and other variables with health care utilization and costs in the year after consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort obtained from electronic medical records and insurance claims data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single health care delivery system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (N=2184) older than 18 years with a new consultation for LBP from 2004 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were categorized as receiving initial physical therapy management if care occurred within 14 days after consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total health care costs for all LBP-related care received in the year after consultation were calculated from claims data. Predictors of utilization of emergency care, advanced imaging, epidural injections, specialist visits, and surgery were identified using multivariate logistic regression. The generalized linear model was used to compare LBP-related costs based on physical therapy utilization and identify other cost determinants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial physical therapy was received by 286 of the 2184 patients (13.1%), and was not a determinant of LBP-related health care costs or utilization of specific services in the year after consultation. Older age, mental health, or neck pain comorbidity and initial management with opioids were determinants of cost and several utilization outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial physical therapy management was not associated with increased health care costs or utilization of specific services following a new primary care LBP consultation. Additional research is needed to examine the cost consequences of initial management decisions made following a new consultation for LBP.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. julie.fritz@hsc.utah.edu
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Fritz
authors: Gerard P
authors: GP
authors: Brennan
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Hunter
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Magel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications; D059408:Pain Management / Q000191:economics*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid