Fast-track group intervention for low back pain patients Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

This project by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board involved empowering patients with low back pain to take a central and active role in the management of their condition.

Low back pain has a significant personal, social and economic impact. It has been estimated to cost the NHS £4.2 billion a year, and prevalence of the condition is increasing.

This Shine project involved the design of a ‘Manage Backs’ model, which changes the entry point on the care pathway from traditional one-to-one physiotherapy, to a group intervention facilitated by a physiotherapist. The aim was to shift the focus from the low back pain itself to awareness of pain and behaviour that maintains disability and distress. The model was implemented across six hospitals in Cardiff and Vale and aimed to provide patients with the knowledge and understanding to engage effectively with decisions and self-management strategies. A training and mentoring programme was also developed to support physiotherapists delivering the intervention.

Patients and clinicians widely accepted and engaged with the project. Over 600 people with low back pain underwent the group intervention; over 80% described it as ‘useful’ or ‘very useful’; and, following the intervention, 13% opted to self-manage, rather than selecting traditional one-to-one care. The project also demonstrated improvements in physiotherapists’ confidence to deliver group interventions, as well as potential cost savings to the NHS of up to 28%.

There were challenges encountered, centred on delivering the intervention across six hospitals, which may have extended the project too fast too soon.

Contact details

For further information about the project, please email George Oliver at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.