Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
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J Am Assoc Nurse Pract · Dec 2014
Influence of self-management and self-management support on chronic low back pain patients in primary care.
This study utilized a nonexperimental, cross-sectional, descriptive design to examine self-management (SM), self-management support (SMS), and other pain-related variables in chronic low back pain (CLBP), and described participants' perceptions of their SM, SMS, and functional ablement. ⋯ Study findings increase our understanding of the SM, SMS, and functional ablement of CLBP patients with relevance to application in practice. There is a great need to develop evidence-based SM and SMS programs specific to CLBP patients' needs. Nurses and nurse practitioners play major roles in leading this initiative. Study findings also reinforce the importance of psychologists and physical therapists' collaboration in the complex care of CLBP. Longitudinal and experimental studies are recommended to evaluate SM and SMS programs that include physical therapy and psychological care components.