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Table 5 Older adults’ recommendations regarding patient-centered communication for LBP co-management by MDs and DCs

From: Perspectives of older adults on co-management of low back pain by doctors of chiropractic and family medicine physicians: a focus group study

 

MD clinic

DC clinic

Senior center

Senior housing

 

M

M

D

D

C

C

C

H

H

H

 

1

2

1

2

1

2

3

1

2

3

Providers should use respectful, honest communication between each other and with patients

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Provider must listen to the patient

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Patient must let doctors know they are seeing other providers for LBP

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

Providers should explain condition, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis

 

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Patients should use their own judgment about any advice for LBP

 

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

Providers should spend more time with patient

   

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Providers should not blame LBP on the older adults’ health condition or age

 

✓

✓

  

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Providers should discuss pain openly with their patients

    

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

MD-DC should resolve disagreements and present unified LBP approach to patient

✓

   

✓

✓

✓

✓

  

If dissatisfied with care, patient should change doctors or get another opinion

✓

✓

✓

  

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

  1. MD = Medical Doctor.
  2. DC = Doctor of Chiropractic.
  3. LBP = Low back pain.
  4. M# = Medical clinic focus group 1 or 2.
  5. D# = Chiropractic clinic focus group 1 or 2.
  6. C# = Senior center focus group 1, 2 or 3.
  7. H# = Senior housing focus group 1, 2 or 3.