ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2007
Use of complementary alternative medicine for low back pain consulting in general practice: a cohort study.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04744883 (Evaluating Specific and Non-Specific Mechanisms in Two Distinct Complementary/Integrative Interventions for Chronic Pain), which is not on this map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Evaluating Specific and Non-Specific Mechanisms in Two Distinct Complementary/Integrative Interventions for Chronic Pain
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 60 citations in OpenAlex.
- Quality of complementary and alternative medicine recommendations in low back pain guidelines: a systematic review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2020Pooled it
- Craniosacral therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2019Pooled it
- Efficacy of Bee Venom Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial.Toxins · 2017Trial
- Factors associated with acupuncture treatment use among middle-aged and older adults with low back pain in China.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Review
- Traditional bone setting in Nigeria from the perspectives of patients and physiotherapists- clinical insights for low back pain management.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Efficacy of acupuncture for hypertension in the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2023Review
- Article
- Patients' perceived needs for allied health, and complementary and alternative medicines for low back pain: A systematic scoping review.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2018Article
- Chiropractic spinal manipulation and the risk for acute lumbar disc herniation: a belief elicitation study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2018Article
- Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for chronic pain.Chinese journal of integrative medicine · 2016Review
- Complementary and integrative healthcare for patients with mechanical low back pain in a U.S. hospital setting.Complementary therapies in medicine · 2016Article
- Thermal sensitivity across ages and during chronic fentanyl administration in rats.Psychopharmacology · 2014Article
- Perspectives of older adults on co-management of low back pain by doctors of chiropractic and family medicine physicians: a focus group study.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2013Article
- The use of complementary and alternative medicine products in preceding two days among Finnish parents - a population survey.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2011Article
- Who seeks primary care for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) with physicians prescribing homeopathic and other complementary medicine? Results from the EPI3-LASER survey in France.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2011Article
- An international comparison of attitudes toward traditional and modern medicine in a chinese and an american clinic setting.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2011Article
- Integration of complementary and alternative medicine into family practices in Germany: results of a national survey.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2011Article
- A comparative study of complementary and alternative medicine use among heterosexually and lesbian identified women: data from the ESTHER Project (Pittsburgh, PA, 2003-2006).Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) · 2010Article
- Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use amongst outpatients in Tokyo, Japan.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2008Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough back pain is considered one of the most frequent reasons why patients seek complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies little is known on the extent patients are actually using CAM for back pain.
methodsThis is a post hoc analysis of a longitudinal prospective cohort study embedded in a RCT. General practitioners (GPs) recruited consecutively adult patients presenting with LBP. Data on physical function, on subjective mood, and on utilization of health services was collected at the first consultation and at follow-up telephone interviews for a period of twelve months
resultsA total of 691 (51%) respectively 928 (69%) out of 1,342 patients received one form of CAM depending on the definition. Local heat, massage, and spinal manipulation were the forms of CAM most commonly offered. Using CAM was associated with specialist care, chronic LBP and treatment in a rehabilitation facility. Receiving spinal manipulation, acupuncture or TENS was associated with consulting a GP providing these services. Apart from chronicity disease related factors like functional capacity or pain only showed weak or no association with receiving CAM.
conclusionThe frequent use of CAM for LBP demonstrates that CAM is popular in patients and doctors alike. The observed association with a treatment in a rehabilitation facility or with specialist consultations rather reflects professional preferences of the physicians than a clear medical indication. The observed dependence on providers and provider related services, as well as a significant proportion receiving CAM that did not meet the so far established selection criteria suggests some arbitrary use of CAM.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.