The short-form Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ-10): Associations with determinants of health and demographics in a musculoskeletal pain cohort

Abstract

BackgroundPsychosocial influences in musculoskeletal complaints are widely recognized to contribute to chronicity of the complaint. A number of patient-report outcome measures have been published to screen for the presence of these influences. ObjectiveExplore the relationship between health demographics and behaviours and the short-form Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ-10). DesignCohort study. SettingUniversity teaching clinic. MethodsPatients were invited to complete a demographic and health questionnaire in addition to the OMPQ-10 prior to their consultation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to explore the relationships between health behaviours, determinants of health and the OMPQ-10. ParticipantsPatients attending the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic for their initial osteopathy consultation. ResultsData from 353 patients were analysed. Mean age was 33.4 (±11.5) years and 93.8% were employed. OMPQ-10 mean total score was 38 (±12). Reliability estimations did not support the calculation of a total score - analysis was undertaken using the OMPQ-10 Domain areas. No significant difference was identified between Domain area score and gender, presenting complaint region, speaking English at home, having had blood pressure assessed in the last 6 months or employment status. Patients with a chronic condition demonstrated significantly higher Pain Experience (p < 0.01, d = 0.79) and Return to Work (p = 0.033, d = 0.26) domain area scores. ConclusionAssociations with health behaviors and determinants were identified. The utility of the OMPQ-10 may be limited given the high number of patients who were employed. Further work is required to evaluate other psychosocial screening tools that may be useful for an osteopathy patient population.