- 1. Your Nomination - Please briefly describe in your own words the question about a health care test or treatment that interests or concerns you:
Low back pain, inparticular nonspecific low back pain, is a common and overly-treated diagnosis resulting in huge amounts of unnecessary spending. I recently conducted a study which supports this claim (publication pending). There are many evidence based guidelines. The problem is that there are contradictions within the guidelines, and despite concordance on some treatments, doctors continue to disregard the evidence, although nobody has clearly explained why this is so. Over treating common low back pain medicalizes a problem that should be addressed through support and more simple self care techniques, at least at the early stages. Imaging, referral to specialists and use of large amounts of prescrition drugs may prolong recovery by convincing the pateint the problem is worse than it is, which can negatively effect outcome. A comparison of exisitng guidelines and easy access may be a step towards remediating this problem.
- 2. Why do you think your question is important? (you may select more than one category if appropriate)
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My question relates to a very common disease or problem
People with this disease or problem have considerable health or financial hardships
There is uncertainty about how well the test, treatment, or intervention works
There is significant potential for side effects/harms using this test, treatment, or intervention
Funding of this test, treatment, or intervention is uncertain or variable
There is unequal access or application of this health care intervention across providers
There is potential for cost savings from better information on this subject
This is a new technology/development
There is new evidence of clinical and/or cost effectiveness for this test, treatment, or intervention
Other
- 3. What illness or health condition is related to your question? (You can also specify a particular health-promoting activity, such as breast-feeding)
- Low back pain
- 4. What group(s) or patients does your question apply to?
- Adults between 20 and 65 years old
- 5. What is the specific purpose of the health care test or treatment you have a question about? (mark all that you think apply)
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Identification of a disease or condition:
Screening or diagnosis/identification for a particular disease, or risk assessment for a disease
Risks or harms that can come from a disease identification tool or test
Diagnostic tests and tools
Diagnosis of co-occurring diseases
Intervention (such as a drug treatment, therapy, device)
Management of a condition or particular system of care
Delivery of a health service
Referral
Risks or harms associated with treatment of a disease or condition
Prevention or health promotion
Specific population health concerns, such as ethnic group or gender
Other
Dont know
- 6. Does your question include a comparison of different health care approaches?
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Yes
If yes, please list what you would like to see compared:
There needs to be more strong evidence showing the psoitive outcomes for patients treated according to existing evidence, including the economic benefits with regard to health care costs, and lost work time.
- 7. Desired Health Improvements: If you question focuses on:
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Identification of a particular disease or condition, what improvements in identification or diagnosis would you like to see?
Treatment of a particular disease or condition, what improvements in patient symptoms or problems would you like to see?
- 8. Harms: Are there risks, side effects, or harms you are concerned about? If yes, please specify what those are:
- No, not with appropriate follow up and ongoing screening
- 9. Based on your answers to the previous questions, what research question(s) would you like to have answered?
- 10. Are there health-care focused, disease-focused, or patient-focused organizations that you see as being relevant to this issue? Who do you think we should contact as we consider your nomination?
- 11. Other Information About You (OPTIONAL) In order to help us understand the context of your health care question, it would be helpful to know more about you. The answers you give will not influence the progress of your suggestion. Thank you.
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a. Please choose a description that best describes your role or perspective: (you may select more than one category if appropriate)
Other Health Care Professional
b. Is there any other information about you that is relevant to your question?
c. Are you making a suggestion as an individual or on behalf of an organization?
Individual
Organization
