[Back pain outpatient clinic--preliminary experiences from Aust-Agder].

Background: Back pain is a major health problem and the most important disorder associated with sickness absence. This report presents experiences from a back pain outpatient clinic.
Material and Methods: We collected demographic data, diagnoses on the referrals (ICPC) and in the outpatient clinic (ICD-9) and recommendations given to 206 patients, referred 1 January to 30 April 1998.
Results: 41% were women (mean age 45), 59% men (mean age 44). Mean waiting time before appointment was 35 days compared to 49 days before the clinic was opened. 43% were prioritized for an appointment within two weeks; mean waiting time in this group was 16 days. 125 (63%) of 200 were referred with non-specific low back pain. Of these, 99 (79%) were given the same diagnosis in the clinic. 75 (37%) had a referral diagnosis of lumbar disk injury with radiation, of whom 46 (61%) were diagnosed with lumbar nuclear prolapse or lumbar spinal stenosis in the clinic.
Interpretation: An outpatient clinic may be a useful way to organise the specialist health service system for back pain patients.