{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T20:45:20Z","timestamp":1766436320476,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766361600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common symptoms presented in general practitioner (GP) consultations worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. Despite LBP clinical guidelines advocating for non-pharmacological, primary care-based management, management often diverges from recommendations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of GPs\u2019 management of LBP in primary care, using a qualitative method.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Twelve GPs across multiple Irish primary care settings were interviewed using a semi-structured guide developed in line with international LBP management guidelines. Interviews were conducted either in-person or via Zoom and audio recorded. The interviews were transcribed and the data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Three key themes were identified. LBP is\n                      <jats:bold>a common issue with increasing patient complexity<\/jats:bold>\n                      . GPs frequently encounter LBP in patients with multimorbidity, particularly in lower socioeconomic settings, complicating diagnosis and management. Secondly, GPs spoke about the\n                      <jats:bold>complexity of managing LBP.<\/jats:bold>\n                      Challenges identified included patient pressure for imaging, limited utility of available imaging, variability in medication prescribing, and patient misunderstandings of physiotherapy. The final theme discussed how the\n                      <jats:bold>current healthcare system<\/jats:bold>\n                      is not fit for purpose. Structural issues such as inequitable access to physiotherapy and the two-tiered public\/private healthcare system were cited as major barriers. GPs expressed a need for better resources, education, and support to align care with clinical guidelines.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The management of LBP in Irish primary care is deeply affected by systemic inequities. Both system-level reform\u2014particularly around equitable access to care\u2014and the development of supportive and accessible resources are needed to empower GPs to successfully manage this significant public health issue.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0339053","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T18:24:05Z","timestamp":1766427845000},"page":"e0339053","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["General practitioners\u2019 experiences of managing low back pain in primary care in Ireland: A qualitative phenomenological study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8716-5005","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Se\u00e1n","family":"Mc 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