Satisfaction with Treatment of Low Back Pain: Conventional Medicine vs. Complementary Medicine

Background: Low back pain, a common ailment that affects 80% of the adult population at some time in their lives, carries with it broad economic and social impacts. In recent years complementary medicine has been mainstreamed into the operation of the four health funds that serve as healthcare-providers in the operation of Israel's Compulsory Health Insurance Law. Consequently, there is a need to examine the effectiveness of such treatments compared to conventional medical treatment. Objective: To evaluate treatment for low back pain in conventional medicine as compared to treatment in complementary medicine from the standpoint of patient satisfaction. Methodology: Questionnaires completed by 181 patients suffering from lower back pains. Results: Out of 181 patients, 45% chose only conventional treatment, 30% chose integrated conventional/complementary treatment, and 13.2% chose only complementary treatment. Satisfaction with complementary treatment was higher than conventional treatment in terms of waiting time and flexibility in appointment timing; personal care from administrative staff and professional treatment personnel and relief of pain (p<0.05). In comparison with conventional care, the respondents reported that complementary care was more expensive but also more effective in terms of pain reduction. In multivariate analysis the respondents level of education and type of treatment received were found to be variables in the prediction of responses vis-a-vis the effectiveness of treatment. In light of the findings, it is recommended that complementary medical care be included as an integral component in the treatment of low back pain.