[Less surgery and lower cost due to back pain in a care program with an interdisciplinary second opinion procedure : A controlled non-randomized intervention study based on claims data].

Background: There is no evidence of effectiveness for interdisciplinary second opinion procedures (ISOP) for recommended back surgery (BS). Since 2015, AOK Nordost has been offering the care program RückenSPEZIAL comprising a preliminary examination, ISOP, and optional interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT). The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of RückenSPEZIAL to reduce BS and back pain-related costs (BPRC) compared to patients who likewise received a recommendation for back surgery but not RückenSPEZIAL.

[Treatment effects and cost-effectiveness of interdisciplinary multimodal pain treatment of patients with back pain : A controlled observational intervention study based on claims data and survey data of participants].

Background: Persons insured by AOK Nordost statutory health insurance (SHI) and on sick leave underwent a 20-day program of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMST) following an initial assessment (IA). We evaluated its effectiveness regarding sick leave, utilization/costs of SHI services, and patient-reported characteristics of pain.

Materials And Methods: Participants with >14 days of IMST in 2013-2015 and with data necessary for comparison (intervention group, IG) were matched 1:1 in 2 steps.