{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T13:03:09Z","timestamp":1790254989937,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767744000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767744000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Emerg Medicine Australasia"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability and a common reason for emergency department (ED) presentation. Although clinical guidelines recommend community\u2010based treatment for non\u2010specific LBP, a range of factors drive people to seek hospital\u2010based care in Australia. This study aimed to describe the patient flow, hospital resource utilisation, and economic impact of LBP\u2010related presentations to South Australian public hospital EDs to identify clinical and financial levers to support innovation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This retrospective observational study utilised data from public hospitals using the electronic medical record over four fiscal years (FY19\/20\u2010FY22\/23). Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine\u2010Clinical Terms (SNOMED) diagnosis and International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes were used to identify episodes of care where individuals were assigned a primary diagnostic code of LBP and\/or sciatica on admission or discharge. Serious spinal pathologies were excluded. Cost of care was calculated using recognised health system metrics (National Weighted Activity Units (NWAU) calculator, estimated ambulance transfer costs).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Findings<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ambulance transfer, semi\u2010\/non\u2010urgent triage and presentation during office hours were common. Imaging and allied health consultations were low. Opioid prescription was the primary treatment identified, and this increased (frequency, potency) over time. Few patients required admission. Average \u2018per patient\u2019 costing increased by $426.30\/patient over the 4\u2010year period.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>ED\u2010based care for non\u2010specific LBP was typically non\u2010urgent care with limited evidence\u2010based components and rising per\u2010patient costs. The elevated prescribing practices, limited access to evidence\u2010based care, and rising per\u2010patient costs highlight an urgent need to reform LBP care pathways to enhance patient outcomes and system performance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/1742-6723.70205","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T17:49:47Z","timestamp":1767808187000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Non\u2010Specific Low Back Pain in South Australian Public Hospital Emergency Departments: A Retrospective Observational Study"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"38","author":[{"given":"Kexun K.","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Allied Health Science and Practice, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences The University of Adelaide  Adelaide Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tina","family":"Hardin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Government of South Australia  Adelaide Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ali","family":"Mohtasham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Government of South Australia  Adelaide Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph F.","family":"Orlando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Central Adelaide Local Health Network, SA Health  Adelaide Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rutger M. J.","family":"de Zoete","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Allied Health Science and Practice, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences The University of Adelaide  Adelaide Australia"},{"name":"School of Health Sciences University of Tasmania  Launceston Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0109-2950","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anne L. J.","family":"Burke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Government of South Australia  Adelaide Australia"},{"name":"Central Adelaide Local Health Network, SA Health  Adelaide Australia"},{"name":"School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences The University of Adelaide  Adelaide Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2665-9913(23)00098-X"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14245\/ns.2448372.186"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1742-6723.14504"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","volume-title":"Model of Care for the Management of Low Back Pain\u2014Summary","author":"NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.70269"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","unstructured":"Emergency Department Care [Internet] 2022."},{"key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","volume-title":"Back Problems","author":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjqs-2019-009383"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","volume-title":"Improving Care for People With Low Back Pain in South Australia: An Optimal System of Care","author":"Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lanwpc.2020.100089"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2014.07.013"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_13_1","volume-title":"Guidelines on the Implementation of the Australasian Triage Scale in Emergency Department","author":"Australasian College for Emergency Medicine","year":"2023"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_14_1","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Opioid Dose Equivalence Calculation Table. PS01(PM) (Appendix)","author":"FPMANZCA","year":"2021"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_15_1","volume-title":"Activity Based Funding for Australian Public Hospitals: Towards a Pricing Framework","author":"IHACPA","year":"2011"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_16_1","volume-title":"Fees and Charges","author":"South Australian Ambulance Service","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_17_1","volume-title":"The South Australian Government Gazette","author":"South Australian Government","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_18_1","volume-title":"The South Australian Government Gazette","author":"Parliament of South Australia","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_19_1","volume-title":"Ambulance Services. Report on Government Services 2025","author":"Productivity Commission","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-018-2237-x"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1865-1380-4-59"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_22_1","volume-title":"Position Statement, Ambulance Ramping and Diversion","author":"Australasian College for Emergency Medicine","year":"2022"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_23_1","volume-title":"Ambulance Waiting Times","author":"SA Health","year":"2025"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11739-024-03736-y"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1071\/AH16211"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.auec.2021.07.001"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajem.2022.03.040"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12961-024-01222-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5694\/mja2.51844"}],"container-title":["Emergency Medicine Australasia"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/1742-6723.70205","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/1742-6723.70205","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/1742-6723.70205","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T12:17:02Z","timestamp":1790252222000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/1742-6723.70205"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/1742-6723.70205"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1742-6723.70205","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1742-6731","1742-6723"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1742-6731","type":"print"},{"value":"1742-6723","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-09-24","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-12-24","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-01-07","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70205"}}