The Long-term Effects of a Self-management Program for Inner-city Primary Care Patients With Acute Low Back Pain

Abstract

LOW BACK pain is highly prevalent in the United States and extremely costly in terms of health care expenditures, lost wages, and disability.^1-4 Acute low back pain (ALBP), defined as symptoms lasting less than 3 months, accounts for more than 90% of all back pain and nearly half of the costs.¹ Acute low back pain, recurrent in its nature, is remarkably burdensome among the urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged population.^5-7 Indeed, in a recent assessment of health concerns and needs among randomly selected congregants of 5 urban African American churches, back pain was reported among 41% as a pressing health issue.⁸ Moreover, data from the National Health Interview Survey indicated that in comparison to whites, African American men and women in the United States reported losing more workdays for greater lengths of time because of low back pain.⁹