Dr Matthew King1, Dr Emily Bell1,2, Ms Nicole Alousis2, Mr Thomas Collins2, Prof Andrew Hahne1, Ms Prasadi Arachchige1, Mr Jordan Stewart1, Dr Hazel Heng2, Dr Katharine See2, Ms Tracey Webster2, Prof Adam Semciw1,2
1La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia, 2Northern Health, Epping, Australia
Biography:
Dr Matthew King is a physiotherapist and senior lecturer in La Trobe University's physiotherapy discipline. His research interests include lower limb musculoskeletal conditions, as well as injury surveillance and epidemiology. His research utilises biomechanical evaluations and digital technologies to inform the development and implementation of assessment and management strategies for people with musculoskeletal conditions.
Abstract:
Background:
Back pain is the second leading cause of disease burden in Australia, affecting one in six people. It is the fifth most common reason for emergency department (ED) visits. This study aimed to enhance monitoring and care by implementing a digital care pathway for back pain patients in ED.
Methods:
Adults presenting to Northern Hospital’s ED with neuromusculoskeletal back pain were eligible to participate over a 6-month period. Consenting participants were monitored for 12 weeks via a digital care pathway implemented in REDCap, collecting outcomes on pain, and quality of life at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 weeks, as well as functional disability, long-term disability risk and mental health. Recovery trajectories were analysed using linear mixed-effects models (α=0.05).
Results:
A total of 111 (53% women) patients with an average age of 46 years participated in the 6-month trial period. At baseline, pain scores were high (average 8/10), with 67% of participants demonstrating a high risk of long-term disability and 80% classed as severely disabled. Outcome completion rates deteriorated as follow-up time increased (32% at 6 weeks, 19% at 12 weeks). Pain, functional disability and long-term disability risk all improved significantly (P<0.05) over the first 6 weeks, then plateaued from 6 to 12 weeks. Mental health outcomes remained unchanged (P>0.05).
Discussion:
Patients showed rapid improvement in pain, chronicity risk, and functional disability over the first six weeks from presentation. Clinicians can use this data to enhance patient education, integrating evidence-based symptom trajectories to guide assessment and patient education management.