• K Bienek, U Marnitz, W Seidel, C Seifert, B von Pickardt, and G Lindena.
• Rückenzentrum Tagesklinik im Forum Pankow GmbH & Co. KG, Hadlichstraße 19, 13187, Berlin, Deutschland.
• Schmerz. 2019 Apr 1; 33 (2): 116-127.

BackgroundBack pain is prevalent in the population, sometimes recurrent and may result in everyday and work disabilities. It is often a reason for seeking healthcare support. Analyzing the need of treatment and chronification-risk tailored intervention is a particular demand in healthcare delivery.ObjectivesReducing downstream consequences of back pain (e. g. pain and disability) by using an interdisciplinary multimodal assessment followed by a risk-tailored intervention.MethodsPatients with back pain (n = 1638) underwent assessments based on the German Pain Questionnaire (GPQ) and the diagnostic assessment each by a team comprising a physician, a psychologist and a physiotherapist. They were assessed answering a follow-up questionnaire after 6 and/or 12 months (n = 832) for success criteria sensitive to change as pain, everyday and work disability.ResultsPatients had on average 62.5 days of work disability and 53.3% had pain up to one year. After assessment, 1447 patients (88.3%) were assigned to receive an intensive interdisciplinary multimodal back pain intervention. Intervention groups were: 120 h of full-time treatment for 4 weeks (n = 1030) or 60 h (n = 224), 48 h part time treatment for 3 months (n = 87), and in-patient hospital treatment for about 17 days (n = 106). The effect sizes of success criteria were large to very large in all treatment groups.ConclusionsTailored, interdisciplinary and intensive intervention is effective in reducing downstream consequences of back pain. The treatment assignment was based on patient reports (GPQ score) and multidisciplinary assessments (clinical evidence score). Tailored interventions should include sufficient intensity for highly disabled patients. Care integration such as timely communication between the health insurance system, back pain centers and usual healthcare services as well as patient- and process-related documentation are crucial for this intervention.

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