Title page for ETD etd-04062005-171307

Type of Document

Thesis

Author

Teasley, Kenyon

URN

etd-04062005-171307

Title

Efficacy of Epidural Steroid Injections in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Nursing, School of

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Jeanne Flannery	Committee Chair
Kathy Barnett	Committee Member
Patricia Dean	Committee Member

Keywords

Chronic Low Back Pain
EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS
Low Back Pain

Date of Defense

2005-03-28

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common chronic pain in the Unite States. The estimated cost of evaluation and treatment, not including time lost from work, runs into the billions of dollars annually. LBP places a huge burden on the health care industry.

There are several different treatments modalities available to treat chronic LBP. Epidural steroid injections ESIs are one option in the treatment of chronic LBP. The traditional and more common approach for LBP management has been surgery.

A limited number of studies have been conducted to address the issue of efficacy of ESIs in the treatment of chronic LBP. These studies have been inconclusive. Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy of ESIs in the treatment of chronic LBP to provide healthcare professionals with the most current information on the most effective modalities.

Low back pain involves not only physical factors but demographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, and a multitude of psychological conditions. It is crucial that nurses with advanced education have a broad knowledge base of chronic LBP management.

Using Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) and the Gate Control Pain Theory, this quasi-experimental, prospective analysis investigated the correlation between the demographic characteristics of the patients with their perception of pain and quality of life prior and subsequent to ESI treatment. The results of the study were positive in regards to the efficacy of ESIs in the treatment of chronic LBP, with 67.2% of the participants answering ‘yes’ that the ESIs were effective and 32.8% answering ‘no’ that they were not effective.

Correlational analyses between demographics and patients perception of pain and level of disability revealed demographic characteristics (gender, age, BMI, race/ethnicity, marital status, preexisting health conditions, and county of residence-urban vs. rural) have a positive correlation with perception of pain and level of disability. In general the efficacy of ESIs in the treatment of chronic LBP indicated a slightly higher relief rate than previous studies.

Further studies are still needed to analyze the correlations between demographic characteristics, patient’s perception of pain, patient’s quality of life and the efficacy of ESIs in the treatment of LBP.

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