The objective of this study is to examine referral patterns for people with musculoskeletal complaints presenting to Australian general practitioners (GPs). This longitudinal analysis from the POpulation Level Analysis Reporting (POLAR) database includes 133,279 patients with low back (aged ≥18) or neck, shoulder and/or knee [...]
Pain medicines are widely prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) when managing people with low back pain (LBP), but little is known about what drives decisions to prescribe these medicines. The aim of this study was to investigate what influences GPs' decision to prescribe pain medicines [...]
Low back pain (LBP) is commonly treated with opioid analgesics despite evidence that these medicines provide minimal or no benefit for LBP and have an established profile of harms. International guidelines discourage or urge caution with the use of opioids for back pain; however, doctors [...]
Although NSAIDs are recommended as a first line analgesic treatment, opioids are very commonly prescribed to patients with low back pain (LBP) despite risks of harms. This study aimed to determine factors contributing to general practitioners’ (GPs’) prescribing choices to patients with chronic LBP in [...]
Low‐back pain (LBP) is a common condition seen in primary care. A principal aim during a clinical examination is to identify patients with a higher likelihood of underlying serious pathology, such as vertebral fracture, who may require additional investigation and specific treatment. All 'evidence‐based' clinical [...]
The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of adding pain science or ergonomics messages to guideline advice on feelings of reassurance and management intentions among people with acute low back pain (LBP). We recruited people with acute LBP (pain for ≤6 weeks) [...]
Eight studies set in primary (four), secondary (one) and tertiary care (accident and emergency = three) were included in the review. Overall, the risk of bias of studies was moderate with high risk of selection and verification bias the predominant flaws. Reporting of index and [...]
The Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard meets an urgent need to provide a resource to ensure curricula relevant to low back pain are up to date, and a clear roadmap for existing clinicians to deliver best care for people with low back pain. The [...]
Improving knowledge of non-opioid pain management strategies was seen as a helpful strategy for reducing opioid use. However, clinicians also raised barriers related to the ED environment, clinicians’ behaviour, and cultural aspects, which should be addressed in future implementation efforts.
A new clinical care standard provides evidence‐based guidance to help clinicians deliver best care for people with low back pain