Source
NOTE: This is an advance access version, and it may differ slightly from the final published version.
# Lay Summary
Patients are more willing to accept treatments that match their preferences. The authors conducted a survey to find out what treatments military Veterans prefer for low back pain. The survey, which asked about experiences with low back pain and attitudes toward health care providers and treatments, reached 1,632 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans, and 290 with chronic low back pain completed it. Most respondents said they had lived with low back pain for five or more years. A total of 91% began experiencing pain during military service. The health care providers most preferred to treat chronic low back pain were massage therapists, physiotherapists, family physicians, and chiropractors. Preferences were based on how well treatments worked, how much Veterans trusted the provider, and how accessible the care was. Most respondents said registered massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and occupational therapy should be available on military bases for actively serving members of the CAF. Findings about the treatment preferences of military personnel should inform future research and policies to improve management of low back pain among serving CAF members and Veterans.
# Abstract
# Introduction
Patients are more willing to initiate and engage in treatments they are predisposed toward; however, Canadian military Veterans’ preferences for managing low back pain are uncertain. This study examined Canadian military Veterans’ use of, and preferences for, health care providers for managing chronic low back pain, both while serving and after release.
# Methods
A 33-item survey was emailed, in English and in French, to 1,632 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans in February-May 2023. CAF Veterans living with chronic low back pain were eligible to complete the survey, which asked about demographic variables, military service, chronic-low-back-pain-related characteristics, and experiences and attitudes toward health care providers and therapeutic approaches to chronic low back pain.
# Results
Of 1,632 individuals, 290 returned a completed survey (18% response rate). Almost all (98%) who responded reported living with chronic low back pain for more than 5 years, and 91% indicated frst experiencing low back pain during military service. Among 12 health care provider options for managing chronic low back pain, respondents most preferred massage therapists, physiotherapists, family physicians, and chiropractors. Te most-attended of-base practitioners for low back pain while serving in the military were physiotherapists (39%), chiropractors (35%), and registered massage therapists (30%). Most respondents endorsed that registered massage therapy (70%), physiotherapy (60%), chiropractic care (51%), and occupational therapy (50%) should be available on base for serving military personnel. Discussion: Findings suggest there may be opportunities to better align on-base health care for low back pain with military personnel’s evidence-based treatment preferences.
# Key words
CAF, Canadian Armed Forces, chronic pain, cross-sectional survey, low back pain, military, mixed methods, treatment preferences, Veterans