BOAT is one of the groups of studies presently located at the Center for Cost and Outcomes Research in Fremont.
Back pain is a leading reason for physician visits, hospitalization and work disability.
BOAT was funded to study geographic variations in the use of back surgery and to better characterize its outcomes, to evaluate the reasons for nonsurgical hospitalization for back pain, to examine the accuracy and optimal sequencing of expensive diagnostic tests, and to disseminate information to clinicians and patients to improve the process of care. This effort requires a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and methodologists, and a network of government and professional organizations concerned about the problem of low back pain. The BOAT team has documented wide geographic variations in rates of back surgery. The team has identified differences in surgical outcomes according to patient age, diagnosis and type of surgical procedure. Nonsurgical hospitalizations are declining, but remain common for inpatient myelography and pain control.