Low Back Pain Project

The GAC was commissioned by the MOHLTC to promote the adoption of guidelines for the management of Acute Low Back Pain (ALBP). In this project, working collaboratively with OGC partners, the GAC employed various tools, including:

• Web based low back pain resources, patient education posters, prescription pads and pamphlets, and a consumer information portal.
• Educational videoconferences
• Identification of a network of Educationally Influential Physicians, called POCKET, who are local Opinion Leaders for participation in training workshops on ALBP

This project aims to improve the management of acute low back pain and reduce unnecessary lumbar spine x-rays in the primary care setting by:

1. Providing physician education through:
   1. Medical schools courses and conferences
   2. Small group learning
   3. Opinion leader interventions
   4. Dissemination of key messages and practice tools
2. Providing ongoing communication and support to physicians to:
   1. Improve the management of acute low back pain
   2. Decrease the unnecessary utilization of lumbar spine x-rays
   3. Ensure appropriate prescribing of pain medication during the ALBP episodes
   4. Increase their patients rate of return to activity
3. Providing patient education and public awareness about the appropriate management of Acute Low Back Pain
4. Evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-method approach to guideline implementation

In 2001/2002, the MOHLTC provided multi-year funding totaling $113,650 for this project. Final post-intervention evaluation of the impacts of the project on testing rates will be available in Fall 2006.