Do UK GPs Need Educating On The Psychosocial Management Of Back Pain

Researchers from Bournemouth, UK set out to identify whether there were any inconsistencies or deficits in the knowledge and understanding of local general practitioners (GPs) about the management of lower back pain - both physically and psychosocially. The intent was to inform the development of new and improved educational tools and interventions designed to improve confidence and clinical effectiveness in treating this group of patients.


Twenty-one general practitioners from the Somerset area in the UK initially took part in a short semi-structured telephone interview about the management of back pain. The responses from these first phase interviews helped develop the structure of more in-depth focus groups that took place two months later with the same group. Both discussions were transcribed, coded and quantitatively analysed for consistent themes and specific issues.


On review of the information provided by this group, five consistent areas of discussion evolved: the patient-practitioner relationship; feelings of the patient; time; education (of both patients and professionals) and resources. Psychosocial issues were rarely mentioned.


The researchers conclude by recognising how complicated and frustrating lower back pain consultations can be for physicians, but they also emphasise the value of improved GP education regarding the psychosocial aspects of lower back pain and how a better understanding of these complications might substantially improve quality of care.


paineuropenewswire