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Cologne – Many aspects of the Chronic Disease Management Program (DMP) for chronic back pain should or could be revised. This is the conclusion reached by a working group of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) after conducting a guideline search.

Chronic back pain is defined as pain below the costal arch and above the buttock folds with or without radiation and possible other symptoms that last longer than three months.

Non-specific back pain is far more common than specific back pain. Chronic non-specific back pain is often multi-causal, so physical, psychological and social factors should be taken into account when planning treatment.

On behalf of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), the scientists examined the extent to which the DMP regulations still correspond to the current state of medical science. To do this, they evaluated 425 recommendations from eleven current evidence-based guidelines. They found additional or different content in the current guidelines on many aspects of care.

For example, guideline recommendations on diagnostics and the review of the admission criteria for the DMP have changed. Innovations also concern individually differentiated therapy planning, therapeutic measures with follow-up and cooperation across care levels, as well as training for insured persons.

In addition, the scientists identified additional care aspects that have not yet been addressed in the DMP, such as a combination treatment of physiotherapy and psychotherapy as well as digital medical applications. © hil/aerzteblatt.de