Developing Patient Partnerships

	The UK’s specialist provider of health information has produced a new booklet, together with BackCare, which aims to help people to manage and prevent their own back pain and supports health professionals dealing with patients with back pain. Back pain affects over one third of the adult population and over 7% of adults consult their GP for back pain in any one year. It is also one of the single biggest causes of sickness absence amongst manual and non-manual workers. (CIPD Absence Management Survey 2005). DPP’s 12 page booklet offers straightforward advice on back health, with a special focus on self-care, plus information on how to prevent back pain. The booklet’s key messages are that back pain is a common problem and there are a number of simple steps you can take to prevent and deal with it; it is important to stay active and there are a range of treatments available if the pain does not go away. Simple exercises to treat and reduce the risk of back pain are also included.
This booklet is one of the many health information resources produced by DPP, a health education charity partly funded by the Department of Health. For more information about DPP's campaigns and to order a brochure, please visit their website www.dpp.org.uk