Patients are increasingly using ambulance services for the management of back pain, yet there is little evidence that explores why patients use this service to manage their back pain. This project aims to explore patient perspectives toward ambulance services and paramedic management of back pain. Understanding why people with back pain are using ambulance services will help guide the development of strategies to manage this condition.

Eight out of ten patients who present to ambulance service for back pain are transported to the emergency department, and very few people are referred to alternate pathways to have their back pain managed. This program of research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual care service pathway for ambulance service to use to manage people with non-traumatic back pain. The program of research will also explore clinician experiences toward the new pathway and patient satisfaction with care, and the cost-effectiveness of the virtual care pathway.

Paramedics are increasingly managing people with back pain, yet only extended care paramedics receive additional education and training in managing this condition. This project will implement a back pain education and training module into NSW Ambulance service to evaluate paramedic knowledge for the management of back pain and the appropriate referral pathways to manage this condition.