A Study on Factors Affecting the Delayed Discharge of Patients With Low Back Pain: A Hospital-Based Analysis
Abstract
Objective: While many studies have examined factors influencing return to work and prolonged sick leave in individuals with low back pain (LBP), little is known about how physical therapy management affects delayed discharge, particularly in Thailand. This study aimed to identify factors associated with delayed discharge among LBP patients receiving treatment in Thai physical therapy departments.
Material and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 186 patients diagnosed with LBP. The data included patients’ demographic information and the details of physical therapy interventions, which were treated as independent variables. Patients were classified into two groups: a timely discharge group and a delayed discharge group, which served as the dependent variables. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to examine the association between these variables.
Results: Patients who had experienced pain >180 days and those who received >3 types of physical therapy interventions per visit were significantly more likely to have a delayed discharge, with adjusted odds ratios of 4.26 (p-value<0.0001) and 2.34 (p-value=0.002). Subgroup analysis based on the types of physical therapy interventions revealed that patients who received lumbar traction as part of their treatment were 2.53 times more likely to experience delayed discharge (p-value<0.006).
Conclusion: Receiving physical therapy >6 weeks was used to define delayed discharge in this study. This study highlights the importance of early, appropriate treatment for LBP to reduce complications and recovery time. Physical therapists should carefully evaluate the use of lumbar traction for its suitability and effectiveness.
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