Course Description:

Low back pain is a common complaint heard in various practice settings. While most cases of acute low back pain are benign, self-limited, and musculoskeletal in origin, a small minority of them can be life-threatening. Thus, it is critical to identify the signs and symptoms referred to as “red flags” that indicate a diagnosis that needs immediate treatment. Many patients with chronic pain have a decreased quality of life due to the development of depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbances caused by the pain (Poli et al., 2018). This emphasizes the need for proper pain control through traditional and alternative therapies. A multidisciplinary approach that includes nurses, physical therapists, imaging professionals, and physicians will optimize outcomes for this population of patients. This course uses review questions and story-based learning for active learning.