PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R G Potter
AU  - J M Jones
AU  - A P Boardman
TI  - A prospective study of primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain: the identification of predictive factors for chronicity.
DP  - 2000 Mar 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 225--227
VI  - 50
IP  - 452
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/50/452/225.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/50/452/225.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2000 Mar 01; 50
AB  - Primary care faces the challenge of reducing the proportion of patients continuing with musculoskeletal pain beyond the acute phase. This study assessed patients presenting in general practice with a four- to 12-week history of pain and re-assessed them 12 weeks later. Patients whose pain was described as &#039;none&#039; or &#039;slight&#039; were allocated to the &#039;acute group&#039;, and those whose pain continued to be &#039;moderate&#039; or &#039;severe&#039; were allocated to the &#039;chronic group&#039;. Comparative analysis of the two groups&#039; responses at initial assessment identified pain intensity, active coping score, and previous pain episode to be factors independently predictive of chronicity.