Model of quality of life in a group of people with chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the leading causes of a reduction in the quality of life (QoL). Various methods effectively improve patients' performance and coping with their symptoms in the short term. The lack of focus on psychological factors, thus overlooking an important element of the holistic model, may result in the modest long-term improvement. The present study aimed to test the relationships between the variables in Wilson and Cleary's QoL model in a CLBP group and to compare them to a nonpain group.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

Data were obtained from 177 people with CLBP and 160 nonpain participants. We conducted a cross-sectional study in which a multi-module self-administered questionnaire examining biological factors, personality traits, personal values, body assessment, symptoms of depression and anxiety, functional status, general perception of health, life satisfaction, received social support, economic support, satisfaction of health care and sociodemographic factors was adopted.

RESULTS

Multiple regression models were able to explain 48.4% of the variance of QoL in the CLBP group and 30.9% in the nonpain group. Statistically significant predictors in the CLBP model were the severity of anxiety, emotional stability, receiving social support, and general health assessment and emotional stability in the nonpain group.

CONCLUSIONS

The study has enabled an initial exploratory analysis of the Wilson and Cleary model in a CLBP group. The list of factors determining the QoL should be extended to include emotional stability, social and economic support. Further research is needed to explain the relationships between variables in the model.