Abstract
The Short form of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-short) and the STarT Back Tool (SBT) have been developed to screen for risk factors for future low back pain (LBP) -related disability and work loss respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the accordance of the two questionnaires and to evaluate the accumulation of risk factors in the risk groups of both screening tools in a large population-based sample. The study population consisted of 3079 participants of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 who had reported LBP over the previous 12 months and had SBT and ÖMPSQ-short data. We evaluated the association of depressive and anxiety symptoms (Hopkins symptom check list-25, Generalized anxiety disorder 7 questionnaire, and Beck’s Depression Inventory 21), psychological features (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire), lifestyle characteristics (BMI, smoking, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity) and social factors (education level) with the SBT and ÖMPSQ-short risk groups. The high-risk groups of both questionnaires were associated (p < 0.001) with depressive and anxiety symptoms and fear-avoidance beliefs. In addition, adverse lifestyle factors accumulated in the higher risk groups, especially from the ÖMPSQ-short. Agreement between the two questionnaires was moderate for men and fair for women.
Highlights
The STarT Back Tool (SBT) was developed to identify subgroups of patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP) in order to determine which kind of treatment would benefit each patient
To the authors’ knowledge, the proportion of participants allocated to the SBT vs ÖMPSQ-short risk groups has not been compared in a population-based sample
We aimed to evaluate the accumulation of psychiatric, psychological, lifestyle and social factors in SBT and ÖMPSQ-short high-risk groups to indirectly validate the questionnaires among the working-age population with LBP
Summary
The SBT was developed to identify subgroups of patients with non-specific LBP in order to determine which kind of treatment would benefit each patient. A cut-off score is primarily used to identify patients at high risk[6] but it can be used to differentiate between low-risk and medium-risk groups[10,11] Both SBT and ÖMPSQ have shown to be valid instruments for identifying people at a higher risk of prolonged disabling pain problems or pain-related adverse effects such as work disability[10]. The suitability of these questionnaires for detecting individuals at a probable risk of prolonged disability from LBP among the population is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the accumulation of psychiatric, psychological, lifestyle and social factors in SBT and ÖMPSQ-short high-risk groups to indirectly validate the questionnaires among the working-age population with LBP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
