Improving Veteran Access to Integrated Management of Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain Among Veterans
The rate of reported low back pain is increasing in the Veteran population, where severe low back pain is more likely, as is the use, reliance on, and abuse of opioids [1]. It is important to study how to improve access to recommended nonpharmacologic therapies, minimize utilization of higher-risk treatments such as opioids and surgery, and optimize long-term outcomes for reduced pain.
The AIM-Back Program
Our goal is to improve access to recommended treatments for lower-back pain that are patient centered and align with Veterans Affairs national priorities for best practices. AIM-Back is a pragmatic trial that will evaluate our pain management treatment pathways by measuring their effectiveness in limiting pain interference, minimizing sleep disturbances from pain, and improving the quality of sleep of our Veterans. The study will be implemented in 18 clinics with an enrollment goal of 105 participants per clinic.
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Pain Management
“When you talk about individual care episode I consider the biological perspective, the psychological perspective and then at least being aware of some of the social issues, which right now really has a ton of information on pain. That to me is a really effective way for physical therapists, in particular, to help make sure, at the very least, they have a better educated client or patient at the end of the care.”
-Dr. Steven George
Collaborators
