| Study | Country | No. and Source of Participants | Setting | Objectives | Provider Type (Nonmedical) | Comparator | Definition of Episode of Care | Duration | Outcomes Relating to Health Care Utilization | Secondary Outcomes Measured | Key Findings Relating to Primary Outcome |
Key Findings
Relating to Secondary Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carey et al23 (1995) | United States | 1555 consecutively selected patients 208 randomly selected primary care providers (87 primary care physicians, 64 chiropractors, 29 orthopedic surgeons, 28 health maintenance organization providers) | Primary care | To determine whether outcomes and charges vary according to type of provider initially seen for an episode of acute low back pain | Chiropractor | Primary care physician, orthopedic surgeon | No low back pain in 2 mo preceding current episode; people who had not previously seen a health care provider for current episode | 6 mo from initial visit | Medication prescription, radiography, advanced imaging, cost of care, hospitalization, frequency of visits | Function measured by Adapted Sickness Impact Profile; patient satisfaction with care | Average no. of prescriptions or over-the-counter medications was lower among patients initiating care with chiropractors than with medical practitioners (2.3 vs 3.5 medications; P < .001) | No clinically significant differences in time to functional recovery (patient reported) measured among different initial provider entry points |