Presse Med
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Decisions about treatment prescriptions depend on many factors. For example, the choice of once-daily or multiple administration of an analgesic, an aspect that is not determined by guidelines, depends essentially on medical practice habits, patient preferences, or both. We analyzed this treatment decision for acute back pain in a case-control study. ⋯ The choice of type of analgesic treatment for acute back pain depends not only on clinical condition (pain and disability), but also on clinical history, the future as envisioned by the physician and the patient's desires. Action to improve treatment choices must integrate these factors, especially as part of an overall education in therapeutics.