How Low Back Pain is Managed-A Mixed-Methods Study in 32 Countries. Part 2 of Low Back Pain in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Series.

The Lancet Low Back Pain (LBP) Series highlighted the lack of LBP data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to describe (1) LBP care is currently delivered in LMICs and (2) that care is delivered. An online mixed-methods study.

Perspectives on chronic musculoskeletal pain management among healthcare professionals in Bhutan: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain disorders continue to be one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Best practice care recommends patient-centred biopsychosocial models of care. Little is known about the chronic musculoskeletal pain management in low- and middle-income countries.

Situation of physical activity in the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Bhutan: challenges and the way forward.

Bhutan is a lower-income-middle-income country in the Himalayas, between India and China. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and premature mortality in Bhutan, accounting for 69% and 71% of all deaths in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified physical activity as a key strategy to reduce the burden of NCDs, with rapid urbanisation, motorised transportation, and rural-urban migration, people are adapting to sedentary lifestyles, inflating the incidence of NCDs in the country.

Physiotherapy services in patient care in Bhutan.

Physiotherapy and rehabilitative services are an integral part of patient care, but in many developing countries they are not considered a priority and are either not available or not easily accessible to those who need them. Bhutan is one such country where healthcare is provided free of cost to all, but as of 2021 physiotherapy services were available only in 26 of 48 hospitals and 19 of 20 districts. The number of physiotherapy professionals per 10,000 population is 1.