Inclusion criteria | Rationale | Source* |
---|---|---|
Continuing member of Group Health | Defined population that is easy to identify, recruit and follow-up and who have been evaluated by a Group Health physician | A, TI |
20 through 64 yrs of age | Chronic low back pain in children results from different causes than those we are studying; Older people have higher risk of undiagnosed serious conditions causing low back pain | A |
At least one primary care visit for back pain within the past 3-12 months | Efficient method for identifying people who may have chronic low back pain | A |
Non-specific, uncomplicated low back pain, i.e., these ICD-9 codes: | These codes are consistent with low back pain that is uncomplicated and mechanical in nature | A |
724.2 Lumbago 724.5 Backache, unspecified 724.8 Other symptoms referable to back 846.0-9 Sprains and strains, sacroiliac 847.2 Sprains and strains, lumbar 847.3 Sprains and strains, sacral 847.9 Sprains and strains, unspecified site of the back | Â | Â |
Physician willing to have patients included in the study | Research policy | ** |
Lives or attends primary care clinic within 45 minutes travel time from a study massage therapist | Maximize compliance with treatment protocol requiring 10 visits | A |