Abstract
BackgroundWhiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are common and costly, and are usually managed initially by general practitioners (GPs). How GPs manage WAD is largely unstudied, though there are clinical guidelines. Our aim was to ascertain the rate of management (percentage of encounters) of WAD among patients attending Australian general practice, and to review management of these problems, including imaging, medications and other treatments.MethodsWe analysed data from 2013 to 2016 collected by different random samples of approximately 1000 general practitioners (GPs) per year. Each GP collected data about 100 consecutive consultations for BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health), an Australian national study of general practice encounters.Main outcome measures were: the proportion of encounters involving management of WAD; management including imaging, medications and other treatments given; appropriateness of treatment assessed against published clinical guidelines.ResultsOf 291,100 encounters from 2919 GP participants (a nationally representative sample), WAD were managed at 137 encounters by 124 GPs (0.047%). Management rates were 0.050% (females) and 0.043% (males). For 63 new cases (46%), 19 imaging tests were ordered, most commonly neck/cervical spine x-ray (52.6% of tests for new cases), and neck/cervical spine CT scan (31.6%). One or more medications were prescribed/supplied for 53.3% of WAD. NSAIDs (11.7 per 100 WAD problems) and compound analgesics containing paracetamol and opioids (10.2 per 100 WAD problems) were the commonest medications used by GPs overall. Paracetamol alone was used in 8 per 100 WAD problems. The most frequent clinical/procedural treatments for WAD were physical medicine/rehabilitation (16.1 per 100 WAD problems), counselling (6.6), and general advice/education (5.8).ConclusionsGPs refer about 30% of new cases for imaging (possibly overutilising imaging), and prescribe a range of drugs, approximately 22% of which are outside clinical guidelines. These findings suggest a need for further education of GPs, including indications for imaging after whiplash injury, identification of those more likely to develop chronic WAD, and medication management guidelines. WAD carry a large personal and economic burden, so the impact of improvements in GP management is potentially significant.
Highlights
Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are common and costly, and are usually managed initially by general practitioners (GPs)
The most frequent injury resulting from Motor Vehicle Crashes (MVCs) in the majority of Western countries is Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) [3]
WAD problems were recorded by 124 GPs for 137 patients (0.047% of encounters)
Summary
Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are common and costly, and are usually managed initially by general practitioners (GPs). Motor Vehicle Crashes (MVCs) are the cause of 50 million injuries worldwide and nearly four million emergency department (ED) consultations annually in the US [1, 2]. The most frequent injury resulting from MVCs in the majority of Western countries is Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) [3]. During the last 30 years, the cumulative incidence of WAD resulting from MVCs has risen to >300/100,000 people in North America and Western Europe [4]. Chronic pain following MVC is a significant burden and a frequent and expensive public health problem
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