Patients' and clinicians' perspectives on a 'fast-track' pathway for patients with sciatica in primary care: qualitative findings from the SCOPiC stratified care trial.

Findings contribute new knowledge about patients' and clinicians' perspectives on the role of imaging and spinal specialist opinion in the management of sciatica, and provide important insights for understanding the 'fast-track' pathway, as part of the stratified care model tested in the RCT. Future research into the early referral of patients with sciatica for investigation and specialist opinion should include strategies to support clinician behaviour change; as well as take into account the role of imaging in providing reassurance to patients with severe symptoms in cases where imaging reveals a clear explanation for the patient's pain, and where this is accompanied by a thorough explanation from a trusted clinical expert.