Abstract
Objective. This study was designed to identify, at admission to a pain treatment facility, characteristics of patients who will be lost to follow‐up after treatment completion.
Method. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on how they responded to the 12‐month follow‐up. The analysis was a between‐subjects design using prospective data collected at a comprehensive pain treatment facility. Low back pain patients (n = 168) received 4 weeks of multidisciplinary pain treatment. The main outcome measure was response/nonresponse to follow‐up questionnaires.
Results. showed that patients who were later lost to follow‐up, or who were reluctant to answer follow‐ups, could be predicted at treatment admission by measures of pain and functioning. The prediction equation was validated by a second group of patients, treatment noncompleters (n = 55).
Conclusion. Chronic pain patients who are more likely to be lost to follow‐up can be identified upon admission to a pain facility. Procedures that should decrease follow‐up attrition could be implemented at program admission.
