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Clinical Trial
. 2002 Oct;92(10):1628-33.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.10.1628.

Comparing the satisfaction of low back pain patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care: results from the UCLA low-back pain study

Ruth P Hertzman-Miller  1 , Hal Morgenstern, Eric L Hurwitz, Fei Yu, Alan H Adams, Philip Harber, Gerald F Kominski
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Comparing the satisfaction of low back pain patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care: results from the UCLA low-back pain study

Ruth P Hertzman-Miller et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the difference in satisfaction between patients assigned to chiropractic vs medical care for treatment of low back pain in a managed care organization.

Methods: Satisfaction scores (on a 10-50 scale) after 4 weeks of follow-up were compared among 672 patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care.

Results: The mean satisfaction score for chiropractic patients was greater than the score for medical patients (crude difference = 5.5; 95% confidence interval = 4.5, 6.5). Self-care advice and explanation of treatment predicted satisfaction and reduced the estimated difference between chiropractic and medical patients' satisfaction.

Conclusions: Communication of advice and information to patients with low back pain increases their satisfaction with providers and accounts for much of the difference between chiropractic and medical patients' satisfaction.

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