Follow up results of chronic idiopathic low back pain patients according to family medicine principles

Objective: The aim of this study was identifying the pain, physical disability, life quality and depression levels alteration with using approach of familiy medicine principles in chronic idiopathic low back pain (CIBP) patients for six months follow up period.Method: The study was finished with randomised 15 study and 15 control CIBP patients who were referred to department of physical treatment and rehabilitation in Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylul University. In study group, family medicine principles were applied, however in control group, no intervention were used. The alteration of life quality, depression, pain and physical disability of patients were evaluated by SF-36 Life Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory, Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index. SPSS 11.0 statistical program is used for data evaluation and descriptive analysis, chi-square, Wilcoxon T test and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results: In study group, the exercise adaptation (p=0.00) and decrease in pain scores (p=0.01) were higher than control group. Physical role limitations (p=0.03) and pain (p=0.00) subunits of life quality were significantly different in groups. There was no statistically difference in depression scores (p=0.24). Disability levels were significantly decreased (p=0.04) in study group.Conclusion: The result of this study show that the family medicine principles have been efficient in decreasing of pain severity, level of disability and efficient in increasing quality of physical life and exercise adaptation for CIBP patients.Key words: Chronic low back pain, family medicine, biophysicosocial management.