Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3962
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Differences across health care systems in outcome and cost-utility of surgical and conservative treatment of chronic low back pain : a study protocol
Authors: Melloh, Markus
Röder, Christoph
Elfering, Achim
Theis, Jean-Claude
Müller, Urs
Staub, Lukas P.
Aghayev, Emin
Zweig, Thomas
Barz, Thomas
Kohlmann, Thomas
Wieser, Simon
Jüni, Peter
Zwahlen, Marcel
DOI: 10.21256/zhaw-3962
10.1186/1471-2474-9-81
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Volume(Issue): 9
Issue: 81
Issue Date: 2008
Publisher / Ed. Institution: BioMed Central
ISSN: 1471-2474
Language: English
Subjects: Chronic disease; Delivery of health care; Health care cost; Human; Low back pain; New Zealand; Outcome assessment; Switzerland; Cross-cultural comparison; Prospective study; Cost-utility; Study protocol
Subject (DDC): 617.5: Orthopaedic surgery
Abstract: Background: There is little evidence on differences across health care systems in choice and outcome of the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) with spinal surgery and conservative treatment as the main options. At least six randomised controlled trials comparing these two options have been performed; they show conflicting results without clear-cut evidence for superior effectiveness of any of the evaluated interventions and could not address whether treatment effect varied across patient subgroups. Cost-utility analyses display inconsistent results when comparing surgical and conservative treatment of CLBP. Due to its higher feasibility, we chose to conduct a prospective observational cohort study. Methods: This study aims to examine if: 1. Differences across health care systems result in different treatment outcomes of surgical and conservative treatment of CLBP 2. Patient characteristics (work-related, psychological factors, etc.) and co-interventions (physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, return-to-work programs, etc.) modify the Outcome of treatment for CLBP 3. Cost-utility in terms of quality-adjusted life years differs between surgical and conservative treatment of CLBP. This study will recruit 1000 patients from orthopaedic spine units, rehabilitation centres, and pain clinics in Switzerland and New Zealand. Effectiveness will be measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline and after six months. The change in ODI will be the primary endpoint of this study. Multiple linear regression models will be used, with the change in ODI from baseline to six months as the dependent variable and the type of health care system, type of treatment, Patient characteristics, and co-interventions as independent variables. Interactions will be incorporated between type of treatment and different co-interventions and patient characteristics. Cost-utility will be measured with an index based on EQol-5D in combination with cost data. Conclusion: This study will provide evidence if differences across health care systems in the outcome of treatment of CLBP exist. It will classify patients with CLBP into different clinical subgroups and help to identify specific target groups who might benefit from specific surgical or conservative interventions. Furthermore, cost-utility differences will be identified for different groups of patients with CLBP. Main results of this study should be replicated in future studies on CLBP.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/9939
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY 2.0: Attribution 2.0 Generic
Departement: School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit: Winterthur Institute of Health Economics (WIG)
Appears in collections:Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Melloh, M., Röder, C., Elfering, A., Theis, J.-C., Müller, U., Staub, L. P., Aghayev, E., Zweig, T., Barz, T., Kohlmann, T., Wieser, S., Jüni, P., & Zwahlen, M. (2008). Differences across health care systems in outcome and cost-utility of surgical and conservative treatment of chronic low back pain : a study protocol. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 9(81). https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3962
Melloh, M. et al. (2008) ‘Differences across health care systems in outcome and cost-utility of surgical and conservative treatment of chronic low back pain : a study protocol’, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 9(81). Available at: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3962.
M. Melloh et al., “Differences across health care systems in outcome and cost-utility of surgical and conservative treatment of chronic low back pain : a study protocol,” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 9, no. 81, 2008, doi: 10.21256/zhaw-3962.
MELLOH, Markus, Christoph RÖDER, Achim ELFERING, Jean-Claude THEIS, Urs MÜLLER, Lukas P. STAUB, Emin AGHAYEV, Thomas ZWEIG, Thomas BARZ, Thomas KOHLMANN, Simon WIESER, Peter JÜNI und Marcel ZWAHLEN, 2008. Differences across health care systems in outcome and cost-utility of surgical and conservative treatment of chronic low back pain : a study protocol. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2008. Bd. 9, Nr. 81. DOI 10.21256/zhaw-3962
Melloh, Markus, Christoph Röder, Achim Elfering, Jean-Claude Theis, Urs Müller, Lukas P. Staub, Emin Aghayev, et al. 2008. “Differences across Health Care Systems in Outcome and Cost-Utility of Surgical and Conservative Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain : A Study Protocol.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 9 (81). https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3962.
Melloh, Markus, et al. “Differences across Health Care Systems in Outcome and Cost-Utility of Surgical and Conservative Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain : A Study Protocol.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 9, no. 81, 2008, https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3962.


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