Determinants of Health Care Use for Low Back Pain in Adolescence

Introduction Recent studies have indicated that LBP is already common in adolescence, but only a few studies have evaluated the factors that determine LBP-related health care use at this age. Materials and Methods The study population included 1987 adolescents aged 18 from the Oulu Back Study (OBS), a subcohort of the 1986 Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC 1986). We used logistic regression to evaluate whether enabling resources need factors; personal health habits or psychological problems are associated with seeking health care for LBP, among adolescents reporting LBP during the last year. Results Of the 1987 respondents, 50% of the women and 42% of the men reported having had LBP during the previous year. Of the 921 respondents with LBP, 89 (16%) women and 59 (16%) men had consulted a health care professional. In both the genders, pain intensity was strongly associated with seeking care (VAS 8–10 vs. VAS 0–3; men: OR 16.6, 95% CI, 3.8–72.5, women: OR 18.8 95% CI, 6.3–56.1). In addition, LBP-related daily activity limitations (impairment index 4–6 vs. 0 OR 15.7 95% CI, 1.7–142.5) were associated with care seeking among males. Student status was also associated with care-seeking among males (OR 2.34 95% CI, 1.02–5.36). (Fig. proportion of adolescents seeking medical care for LBP according to pain intensity in VAS.) Conclusion Approximately one out of six adolescents with LBP seeks medical care. Intensity of pain and daily activity limitations appear to be the main determinants of seeking care for LBP in adolescence. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared