Marijke Leysen1,2,3, Jo Nijs2,3,4, C Paul Van Wilgen2,3,5, Filip Struyf1,2,3, Mira Meeus1,2,6, Erik Fransen7, Christophe Demoulin8,9, Rob J E M Smeets10,11, Nathalie A Roussel1. 1. Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 2. Pain in Motion International Research Group. 3. Department of Physiotherapy, Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. 5. Transdisciplinary Pain Management Centre, Transcare, Groningen, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 7. StatUA Centre for Statistics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 8. Department of Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium. 9. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Liege University Hospital, Liege, Belgium. 10. Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands. 11. School of Caphri, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Although the importance of psychosocial factors has been highlighted in many studies in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is a lack of research examining the role of illness perceptions in explaining functional disability and physical activity in patients with CLBP. AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the value of illness perceptions in explaining functional disability and physical activity in patients with CLBP. METHODS: Eighty-four participants with CLBP (of > 3 months' duration) completed a battery of questionnaires investigating psychosocial factors (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS], Illness Perceptions Questionnaire Revised [IPQ-R], and 36-Item Short Form mental health scale [SF-36_MH]) and perceived pain intensity (visual analog scale [VAS]), as well as the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Baecke questionnaire. The latter 2 were entered separately as dependent variables in a regression analysis. RESULTS: The combined variables (VAS, PCS, SF-36_MH, IPQ-R) accounted for 62% of the variance in functional disability (ODI). Adding the results of the IPQ-R to the scores of the other 3 variables (VAS, PCS, SF-36_MH) significantly increased the explained variance of ODI scores in CLBP patients, yielding 18% additional information (P < 0.01). Only 5% of the variance in the Baecke questionnaire was explained by combining the 4 variables. None of the single variables alone made a significant contribution to R². CONCLUSIONS: Illness perceptions are an important factor for explaining functional disability, but not for explaining habitual physical activity in CLBP patients.
INTRODUCTION: Although the importance of psychosocial factors has been highlighted in many studies in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is a lack of research examining the role of illness perceptions in explaining functional disability and physical activity in patients with CLBP. AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the value of illness perceptions in explaining functional disability and physical activity in patients with CLBP. METHODS: Eighty-four participants with CLBP (of > 3 months' duration) completed a battery of questionnaires investigating psychosocial factors (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS], Illness Perceptions Questionnaire Revised [IPQ-R], and 36-Item Short Form mental health scale [SF-36_MH]) and perceived pain intensity (visual analog scale [VAS]), as well as the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Baecke questionnaire. The latter 2 were entered separately as dependent variables in a regression analysis. RESULTS: The combined variables (VAS, PCS, SF-36_MH, IPQ-R) accounted for 62% of the variance in functional disability (ODI). Adding the results of the IPQ-R to the scores of the other 3 variables (VAS, PCS, SF-36_MH) significantly increased the explained variance of ODI scores in CLBP patients, yielding 18% additional information (P < 0.01). Only 5% of the variance in the Baecke questionnaire was explained by combining the 4 variables. None of the single variables alone made a significant contribution to R². CONCLUSIONS: Illness perceptions are an important factor for explaining functional disability, but not for explaining habitual physical activity in CLBP patients.