02108nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001100001600042700001400058700001700072700001500089700001300104700002100117245009600138250001500234300001300249490000700262520159900269020004601868       2009                            d1 aFerreira P.1 aSmeets R.1 aLatimer Jane1 aMachado G.1 aMaher C.1 aFerreira Manuela00aFactors defining care-seeking in low back pain--a meta-analysis of population based surveys  a2009/12/29  a747 e1-70 v143 a<p>
Little is known about factors determining health care-seeking behavior in low back pain. While a number of studies have described general characteristics of health care utilization, only a few have aimed at appropriately assessing determinants of care-seeking in back pain, by comparing seekers and non-seekers. The objective of this systematic review was to identify determinants of health care-seeking in studies with well-defined groups of care-seekers and non-seekers with non-specific low back pain. A search was conducted in Medline, AMED, Cinahl, Web of Science, PsycINFO, National Research Register, Cochrane Library and LILACS looking for population- based surveys of non-specific low back pain patients older than 18 years, published since 1966. To be included in the review, studies needed to report on characteristics of well-defined groups of care-seekers and non-seekers. Methodological quality was assessed using a criteria list based on sampling, response rate, data reproducibility, power calculation and external validity. Risk estimates were expressed as odd ratios (95% confidence intervals). When possible, meta-analyses were performed, using a random effects model. Eleven studies were included in the review. Pooled results show that women are slightly more likely to seek care for their back pain as are patients with a previous history of back pain. Pain intensity was only slightly associated with care-seeking, whereas patients with high levels of disability were nearly eight times more likely to seek care than patients with lower levels of disability.
</p>
  a1532-2149 (Electronic)1090-3801 (Linking)