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Objective: The purpose of study was to compare physical therapy duration in relation tohealth care organization system in patients with low back pain. Subjects: Subjects of this study were 759 patients who are receiving physical therapy at 56 health care organization. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaire that had been completed by patients and physical therapist for two months. Physical therapy procedures consisted of modality application, manual therapy, active therapeutic exercise, and patient education. Physical therapy session duration was investigated for each physical therapy procedure. Data were analyzed in relation to the university hospital, hospital, and clinic. Results: The mean age of subjects was 42.84±15.46. There were no significant differences in age among three groups. The number of patients diagnosed with herniated disc were 244(32.15%) and with mechanical low back pain was 187(24.64%). the mean treatment duration per day was 53.22 minutes, and the longest treatment duration was 61.28 minutes at the university hospitals(p＜0.001). The mean modality application duration was 42.17 minutes, and the longest application duration was 46.26 minutes at the university hospitals(p＜0.001). The mean duration for manual therapy was 5.11 minutes, and the longest treatment duration was 5.97 minutes at clinics. The mean duration for active therapeutic exercise was 4.16 minutes. It was 7.60 minutes at the university hospitals, and 2.48 minutes at clinics. There was a significant difference in active therapeutic exercise duration between university hospitals and clinics(p＜0.001). For modalities, hot packs(89.33%) and interferential current therapy(60.87%) were mostly applied. For manual therapy, Soft tissue mobilization(32.93%) and manipulation(14.10%) were mostly applied. In general, treatment application duration was longer at University hospital (p＜0.05). For therapeutic exercise, exercise without equipment(18.84%) and muscle strengthening(16.73%) were mostly performed. The longest treatment duration for therapeutic exercise was 7.60 minutes at the university hospital(p＜0.05). Conclusion: physical therapy session duration for low back pain was 53.22 minutes. Modality application constitutes 79%, manual therapy 10%, active therapeutic exercise 8% of total treatment duration. It is concluded that patients do not participate actively in treatment procedures.
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