title: Survey of Conventional and Complementary and Alternative Therapy in Patients With Low Back Pain.
abstract: Both conventional and alternative medical therapies are used by patients to treat low back pain, a condition that affects approximately 33% of the U.S.
  
  
  METHODS
  Little is known about patients' perceptions of conventional versus alternative therapies. Patients recruited from an orthopedic spine clinic completed surveys containing questions about their use of many conventional and alternative therapies. Patients rated perceived helpfulness, side effects, and their recommendation for each therapy. They also completed a questionnaire that detailed demographic information, stress, and pain. Questionnaires were completed by 166 patients. Conventional medications were used by 154 (95%) patients, most commonly acetaminophen and opioid derivatives. Alternative therapies were used by 159 (96%) patients, including therapeutic exercises, salves, supplements, and stress management techniques. Generally, patients reported that alternative therapies are more effective and have fewer side effects and would more likely recommend their use. These data can be used to counsel patients and guide future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. togara@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Tadhg
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Gara
authors.forename: Kathi J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birkedal
authors.forename: Walton
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Curl
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abadie
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D014815:Vitamins