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Study Design.

This study is an analysis of national survey data from 5 sample years.

Objectives.

The authors characterized the frequency of office visits for low back pain, the content of ambulatory care, and how these vary by physician specialty.

Summary of Background Data.

Few recent data are available regarding ambulatory care for low back pain or how case mix and patient management vary by physician specialty.

Methods.

Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were grouped into three time periods (1980–81, 1985, 1989–90). Frequency of visits for low back pain, referral status, tests, and treatments were tabulated by physician speciatly.

Results.

There were almost 15 million office visity for “mechanical” low back pain in 1990, ranking this problem fifth as a reason for all physician visits. Low back pain accounted for 2.8 percent of office visity in all three time periods. Nonspecific diagnostic lables …