Low back pain and radicular pain : development of a clinical pathway

126 p.
ill.
1 INTRODUCTION.12 -- 1.1 BACKGROUND: A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH HIGH SOCIETAL IMPACT 12 -- 1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS.13 -- 1.3 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS 13 -- 1.3.1 Definition of low back and radicular pain .13 -- 1.3.2 Definition of clinical pathway 14 -- 1.4 STUDY PROCESS.14 -- 2 A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LITERATURE .15 -- 2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 15 -- 2.2 METHODS 15 -- 2.3 RESULTS 16 -- 2.4 LIMITATIONS 22 -- 3 INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF PATHWAYS 22 -- 3.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 22 -- 3.2 METHODS 22 -- 3.2.1 Identification of eligible pathways and countries 22 -- 3.2.2 Identification of variables relevant to the quality, efficacy, feasibility and applicability of low back pain care pathways .23 -- 3.2.3 Data collection 23 -- 3.2.4 Processing and analysis of the data 24 -- 3.3 RESULTS 24 -- 3.3.1 Number of identified pathways 24 -- 3.3.2 Characteristics of retrieved pathways26 -- 3.3.3 Pathway components related to quality and efficiency.38 -- 3.3.4 Key interventions and building elements for LBP pathways 38 -- 3.3.5 Organizational challenges in the development of LBP pathways 39 -- 3.4 LIMITATIONS 40 -- 4 THE BELGIAN CONTEXT.41 -- 4.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 41 -- 4.2 METHODS 41 -- 4.3 RESULTS41 -- 4.3.1 Structural initiatives for managing pain.41 -- 4.3.2 A variety in initiatives for the patients.45 -- 4.3.3 Initiatives regarding work ability and work conditions. 45 -- 4.4 LIMITATIONS46 -- 5 DESCRIPTION OF SOME BELGIAN INITIATIVES OF PATHWAYS 46 -- 5.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 46 -- 5.2 METHODS 46 -- 5.3 RESULTS 47 -- 5.3.1 Characteristics of the Belgian pathway initiatives 47 -- 5.3.2 Key interventions and building elements .56 -- 5.4 LIMITATIONS59 -- 6 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PERCEPTION - NOMINAL GROUPS.60 -- 6.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 60 -- 6.2 METHODS 60 -- 6.3 RESULTS60 -- 6.3.1 First contact and Triage 63 -- 6.3.2 Diagnostic 64 -- 6.3.3 Treatment.64 -- 6.3.4 Return to work 66 -- 6.4 LIMITATIONS66 -- 7 PATIENTS PERCEPTION – FOCUS GROUPS.67 -- 7.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 67