College calls for more research into effectiveness of back pain treatments

RCGP responds to a BMJ Evidence Based Medicine study into the effectiveness of treatments for back pain, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

“GPs know the detrimental impact that living with chronic back pain can on a patient's life, and we want to be able to help them - but we also want to be confident that the interventions we recommend or prescribe are working, and it's clear from this study that more research is needed in this area.

"GPs are highly trained to take into account the various physical, psychological and social factors that may be impacting on a patient's health, and work with them to formulate a treatment plan in line with NICE and clinical guidelines. Increasingly this will involve referral to first-contact physiotherapists - for assessment and exercises - and in chronic cases, where appropriate, liaising with link workers to suggest non-medical interventions that may be of benefit for dealing with pain. And many patients do report feeling some relief from the interventions - medical or not - that we suggest.

"As with any new research, it's important that as clinical guidelines are updated it is taken into account - and as this study shows, back pain and the effectiveness of treatments for it, is an area that needs more research. We would urge patients not to stop taking medication that has been prescribed to them to help with their back pain, as a result of this research, from stopping without consulting with their doctor."

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.