Rapidity and modality of imaging for acute low back pain in elderly patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most quality metrics focus on underuse of services, leaving unclear what factors are associated with potential overuse.

Methods

We analyzed Medicare claims from 2000-2002 and 2004-2006 for 35 039 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with acute low back pain (LBP) who were treated by 1 of 4567 primary care physicians responding to the 2000-2001 or 2004-2005 Community Tracking Study Physician Surveys. We modified a measure of inappropriate imaging developed by the National Committee on Quality Assurance. We characterized the rapidity (<28 days, 29-180 days, none within 180 days) and modality of imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging [CT/MRI], only radiograph, or no imaging). We used ordered logit models to assess relationships between imaging a

SUBMITTER: Pham HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2854511 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature