Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jun 2003
Patient satisfaction, characteristics, radiology, and complications associated with attending a specialized government-funded multidisciplinary spinal pain unit.
To prospectively document the satisfaction of a random sample of patients attending a specialized multidisciplinary spinal pain unit in the Australian public health care system and to collect associated data on patient characteristics, radiological findings, treatment modalities used, and any significant complications. Design and setting Spinal pain syndrome patients attended the specialized Multidisciplinary Spinal Pain Unit at Townsville General Hospital and the Kirwan Community Health Centre (Queensland, Australia) for diagnosis and management (ie, chiropractic spinal manipulation, medication, or needle acupuncture). A patient satisfaction questionnaire was sent to a random sample of patients in this Queensland Government funded service that was approved by the health authority's Ethics Committee. ⋯ A public hospital or community health center based specialized spinal pain syndrome unit is useful for referring clinicians who wish to obtain a further opinion for challenging spinal pain syndrome patients in the lower socioeconomic group that cannot afford private health care.