Patient clusters in acute, work-related back pain based on patterns of disability risk factors.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To identify subgroups of patients with work-related back pain based on disability risk factors.

METHODS:
Patients with work-related back pain (N = 528) completed a 16-item questionnaire of potential disability risk factors before their initial medical evaluation. Outcomes of pain, functional limitation, and work disability were assessed 1 and 3 months later.

RESULTS:
A K-Means cluster analysis of 5 disability risk factors (pain, depressed mood, fear avoidant beliefs, work inflexibility, and poor expectations for recovery) resulted in 4 sub-groups:
low risk (n = 182); emotional distress (n = 103); severe pain/fear avoidant (n = 102); and concerns about job accommodation (n = 141). Pain and disability outcomes at follow-up were superior in the low-risk group and poorest in the severe pain/fear avoidant group.

CONCLUSIONS:
Patients with acute back pain can be discriminated into subgroups depending on whether disability is related to pain beliefs, emotional distress, or workplace concerns.

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Author information

Author/s: Shaw, William S (WS); Pransky, Glenn (G); Patterson, William (W); Linton, Steven J (SJ); Winters, Thomas (T);

Affiliation: Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Center for Disability Research, Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01748, USA. william.shaw(-atsign-)libertymutual.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (J Occup Environ Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 49 (issue 2) : pp 185-93

Dates: Created 2007/02/12; Completed 2007/03/13;

PMID: 17293758, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Activities of Daily Living - psychology
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Back Injuries - complications; psychology
Back Pain - epidemiology; etiology; psychology
Cluster Analysis
Disability Evaluation
Fear
Female

Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - classification; epidemiology; etiology
Pain
Pain Measurement - methods; psychology
Questionnaires
Risk Factors

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