INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Educational messages related to Low back pain (LBP) are often contradictory and drive maladaptive beliefs, as they conflict with the latest research evidence. This study aims to examine participants' reassurance levels in relation to educational messages regarding LBP among the Saudi population with the condition compared to those without it, and to assess the association between levels of reassurance and fear avoidance.

METHODS

A list of 13 educational messages about LBP was generated from LBP-educational resources in Saudi Arabia, and from expert consensus on a set of evidence-based key messages for people with LBP. Consented respondents with LBP of various durations and those without the condition completed a questionnaire containing questions on demographic characteristics, the absence or presence of LBP and its intensity, and the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ). We also asked them to rate their level of perceived reassurance regarding the educational messages using a Likert-type scale from 0 to 10.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 1652) reported that the 13 educational messages had reassured them about LBP. However, there was no significant difference between participants with and without LBP (p ≥ 0.05). There was an overall weak association between the responses to the 13 educational messages and the fear-avoidance questionnaire. However, reassurance levels regarding most of the educational messages were negatively associated with the FABQ.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that people with and without LBP need reassurance about the condition. Furthermore, we show that as reassurance increases, fear-avoidance decreases, confirming the complex nature of LBP.