The prevalence of lower back pain in long haul pilots would be much obviated if a protocol were established whereby a lower lumbar MRI were conducted every five years or so.
It's a great idea, but I'd agree with
Homonc
ulus, what you're talking about here is a screening process. I'm wondering if you're thinking more like an engineer than a pilot ! (Hope that's not to patronising
)
When I'm trying to look at pathways for care and all that (how we spend taxpayers money and the such like), then this is a good starting point....
The Wilson criteria for screening emphasise the important features of any screening program, as follows:
- the condition should be an important health problem
- the natural history of the condition should be understood
- there should be a recognisable latent or early symptomatic stage
- there should be a test that is easy to perform and interpret, acceptable, accurate, reliable, sensitive and specific
- there should be an accepted treatment recognised for the disease
- treatment should be more effective if started early
- there should be a policy on who should be treated
- diagnosis and treatment should be cost-effective
- case-finding should be a continuous process
It's quite old fashioned, (the WHO have some updated stuff) - but, without fulfilling these (or most of them) then we're probably on a road to nothing