title: [Gender-based differences in the management of low back pain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low back pain (LBP) is a well-known reason people worldwide seek medical help and it is a Leading cause of chronic pain and disability among people of working age. Recent research reveals that the female gender is not only a risk factor for developing LBP but it may also influence the management of this common condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to evaluate gender-related differences in the management of LBP patients in a specialized hospital-based chronic pain unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out through telephone interviews and the hospital computerized database (N = 129). Socio-demographic, Lifestyle, occupational and medical variables were collected, and their association with the frequency of use of five different diagnostic and/or therapeutic modalities was examined using gender stratification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age, religion, socioeconomic data and the number of co-morbid conditions, women were more prone to poly-pharmacy of analgesic medications prescribed in the previous year compared to men (p = 0.024) and exhibited an increased rate of treatment cessations due to adverse effects (p < 0.001). Interestingly, while women tended to utilize more healthcare services besides the pain clinic (p = 0.097), men tended on average to have more visits than women to the pain clinic for their complaints (p = 0.019). Among those who applied for insurance compensation for LBP-related disability, women exhibited increased use of imaging procedures compared to men (p = 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cross-sectional study reveals gender-related differences in management and health services utilization for treatment of LBP in the chronic pain clinic. If confirmed in other centers, these findings should inspire gender-sensitive resource management of the treatment of chronic pain patients. Moreover, the findings suggest that increased awareness of gender bias when seeking insurance compensation for LBP-related disability is warranted.
authors.forename: Iftach
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sagy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friger
authors.forename: Tal Peleg
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sagy
authors.forename: Zvia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rudich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007557:Israel; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics