Back pain amongst mid-age Australian women: A longitudinal analysis of provider use and self-prescribed treatments

Broom, AF; Kirby, ER; Sibbritt, DW; Adams, J; Refshauge, KM

Back pain amongst mid-age Australian women: A longitudinal analysis of provider use and self-prescribed treatments

Broom, AF

Kirby, ER Sibbritt, DW

Adams, J

Refshauge, KM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2012, 20 (5), pp. 275 - 282
Issue Date:: 2012-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Broom, AF https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1258-1140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kirby, ER	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, DW https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Refshauge, KM	en_US
dc.date.available	2012-05-09	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-10-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2012, 20 (5), pp. 275 - 282	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0965-2299	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18471
dc.description.abstract	Objectives: To analyse use of conventional and complementary and alternative (CAM) practitioners and self-prescribed CAM amongst mid-age Australian women with back pain. Design: Self-completion postal surveys completed in 2004 and 2007, of the mid-age cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's health. Questions asked for written responses about the use of conventional practitioners, CAM practitioners and self-prescribed CAM for treatment of back pain. Setting: Analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data (n=9820), conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), which was designed to investigate multiple factors affecting the health and well being of women over a 20-year period. Main outcome measure: Women were asked if they had sought help for back pain in the previous twelve months. Results: The prevalence of back pain was 54.8% (n=5383). The percentage of women who sought help for their back pain was 17.3% (n=1700). Of the women who sought help for back pain, 2% consulted with a CAM practitioner only, 35% consulted a conventional practitioner only and 63% with both a conventional and CAM practitioner. Conclusions: Back pain is prevalent amongst mid-age Australian women, although only one third sought help. Women who sought help for their back pack were high users of CAM (practitioners and self-prescribed) and conventional care providers, consulting a CAM practitioner in complement with conventional biomedical consultations rather than as an alternative. Further research is needed to explore the complex contemporary landscapes of back pain negotiation and management. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Complementary Therapies in Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ctim.2012.05.003	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Back Pain	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Self Medication	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Care Surveys	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Women's Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Patient Acceptance of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	Back pain amongst mid-age Australian women: A longitudinal analysis of provider use and self-prescribed treatments	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	20	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	20	en_US

Abstract:

Objectives: To analyse use of conventional and complementary and alternative (CAM) practitioners and self-prescribed CAM amongst mid-age Australian women with back pain. Design: Self-completion postal surveys completed in 2004 and 2007, of the mid-age cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's health. Questions asked for written responses about the use of conventional practitioners, CAM practitioners and self-prescribed CAM for treatment of back pain. Setting: Analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data (n=9820), conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), which was designed to investigate multiple factors affecting the health and well being of women over a 20-year period. Main outcome measure: Women were asked if they had sought help for back pain in the previous twelve months. Results: The prevalence of back pain was 54.8% (n=5383). The percentage of women who sought help for their back pain was 17.3% (n=1700). Of the women who sought help for back pain, 2% consulted with a CAM practitioner only, 35% consulted a conventional practitioner only and 63% with both a conventional and CAM practitioner. Conclusions: Back pain is prevalent amongst mid-age Australian women, although only one third sought help. Women who sought help for their back pack were high users of CAM (practitioners and self-prescribed) and conventional care providers, consulting a CAM practitioner in complement with conventional biomedical consultations rather than as an alternative. Further research is needed to explore the complex contemporary landscapes of back pain negotiation and management. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18471