Development and initial evaluation of an evidence-based in-office decision aid to improve the assessment and treatment of patients with acute low back pain in primary care practice, the Peterborough Back Rules Template

grantor: University of TorontoThis thesis reports the development and initial evaluation of an in-office decision aid to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. The decision aid (a chart template and postural advice/prescription tear-off) was developed with local physician opinion leaders in the City of Peterborough Ontario in the context of a guideline implementation project. A survey answered by 70% of practising primary care physicians in the city showed that 98% were aware of the implementation project, but the acceptability of the chart template was low, 10/63 physicians (15.9%) reported using it with more than 50% of their new patients with low back pain. Opinions about the usefulness of the chart template were mixed: very useful (8%), useful (20%), somewhat useful (17%), not useful (13%), can't judge (32%). The qualitative part of the evaluation revealed that many physicians did not see the need for a decision aid in dealing with acute low back pain, and were reluctant to change their current office and charting practices. to accommodate it.M.Sc