Table 1 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1.

Age ≥ 65 years

2.

Primary care visit for back pain based on ICD9 code (Table 2)

Exclusion criteria:

1.

Health care encounter for back pain within 6 months

2.

Previously contacted for registry participation

3.

Prior lumbar spine surgery

4.

Developmental spine deformities

5.

Inflammatory spondyloarthropathy

6.

Spinal malignancy or infection

7.

History of cancer within past 5 years excluding non-melanomatous skin cancer

8.

History of HIV within past 5 years

9.

No telephone

10.

Planning on leaving Health System within the next 12 months

11.

Unable to understand English

12.

Severe mental impairment that would interfere with answering questions