Evaluating Different Measures of Low Back Pain Among U.S. Manual Materials Handling Workers: Comparisons of Demographic, Psychosocial, and Job Physical Exposure

2020 ◽  
pp. 001872082097110
Author(s):  
Ruoliang Tang ◽  
Jay M. Kapellusch ◽  
Kurt T. Hegmann ◽  
Matthew S. Thiese ◽  
Inga Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Physical Exposure ◽  
Pain Duration

Objective To examine differences in demographic, psychosocial, and job physical exposure risk factors between multiple low back pain (LBP) outcomes in a prospective cohort of industrial workers. Background LBP remains a leading cause of lost industrial productivity. Different case definitions involving pain (general LBP), medication use (M-LBP), seeking healthcare (H-LBP), and lost time (L-LBP) are often used to study LBP outcomes. However, the relationship between these outcomes remains unclear. Method Demographic, health status, psychosocial, and job physical exposure risk factors were quantified for 635 incident-eligible industrial workers. Incident cases of LBP outcomes and pain symptoms were quantified and compared across the four outcomes. Results Differences in age, gender, medical history, and LBP history were found between the four outcomes. Most incident-eligible workers (67%) suffered an LBP outcome during follow-up. Cases decreased from 420 for LBP (25.4 cases/100 person-years) to 303 for M-LBP (22.0 cases/100 person-years), to 151 for H-LBP (15.6 cases/100 person-years), and finally to 56 for L-LBP (8.7 cases/100 person-years). Conversely, pain intensity and duration increased from LBP to H-LBP. However, pain duration was relatively lower for L-LBP than for H-LBP. Conclusion Patterns of cases, pain intensity, and pain duration suggest the influence of the four outcomes. However, few differences in apparent risk factors were observed between the outcomes. Further research is needed to establish consistent case definitions. Application Knowledge of patterns between different LBP outcomes can improve interpretation of research and guide future research and intervention studies in industry.

scholarly journals Rasch Analysis Supports the Use of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavia Di Pietro ◽  
Mark J. Catley ◽  
James H. McAuley ◽  
Luke Parkitny ◽  
Christopher G. Maher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Rasch Analysis ◽  
Item Bias ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Pain Duration

Background The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is used by physical therapists in clinical practice and in research. However, current understanding of the PSEQ's measurement properties is incomplete, and investigators cannot be confident that it provides unbiased information on patient self-efficacy. Objective The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate the scale properties of the PSEQ using Rasch analysis and (2) to determine whether age, sex, pain intensity, pain duration, and pain-related disability bias function of the PSEQ. Design This was a retrospective study; data were obtained from 3 existing studies. Methods Data were combined from more than 600 patients with low back pain of varying duration. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate targeting, category ordering, unidimensionality, person fit, internal consistency, and item bias. Results There was evidence of adequate category ordering, unidimensionality, and internal consistency of the PSEQ. Importantly, there was no evidence of item bias. Limitations The PSEQ did not adequately target the sample; instead, it targeted people with lower self-efficacy than this population. Item 7 was hardest for participants to endorse, showing excessive positive misfit to the Rasch model. Response strings of misfitting persons revealed older participants and those reporting high levels of disability. Conclusions The individual items of the PSEQ can be validly summed to provide a score of self-efficacy that is robust to age, sex, pain intensity, pain duration, and disability. Although item 7 is the most problematic, it may provide important clinical information and requires further investigation before its exclusion. Although the PSEQ is commonly used with people with low back pain, of whom the sample in this study was representative, the results suggest it targets patients with lower self-efficacy than that observed in the current sample.

Relationship of Subjective Disability with Pain Intensity, Pain Duration, Pain Location, and Work-Related Factors in Nonoperated Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Grönblad ◽  
Erkki Järvinen ◽  
Olavi Airaksinen ◽  
Martti Ruuskanen ◽  
Harri Hämäläinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Chronic Low Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Pain Location ◽  
Pain Duration ◽  
Relationship Of

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Industrial Workers

Folia Medica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardiana Murtezani ◽  
Zana Ibraimi ◽  
Sabit Sllamniku ◽  
Teuta Osmani ◽  
Seven Sherifi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Industrial Workers

Self-reported prevalence, pain intensity and risk factors of low back pain in adolescent rowers

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Ng ◽  
Debra Perich ◽  
Angus Burnett ◽  
Amity Campbell ◽  
Peter O'Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Low Back

Distributions of Job Physical Exposure Data in a Pooled Study of Low Back Pain Prospective Cohorts

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 920-924
Author(s):  
Ruoliang Tang ◽  
Ming-Lun Lu ◽  
Andrew S. Merryweather ◽  
Matthew S. Thiese ◽  
Kurt T. Hegmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Physical Exposure ◽  
Exposure Data ◽  
Lost Productivity ◽  
Prospective Cohorts ◽  
Physical Job Demands

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem and a major cause of lost productivity in workplaces. Lifting and lowering (LL) activities have traditionally been regarded as risk factor for LBP. In the literature, very little data have been reported describing industrial workers’ exposures to measured job physical demands using comprehensive and quantitative method, such as the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE). This study pooled physical exposure data for the RNLE commonly collected in three independent LBP prospective studies. In total, over one million subtasks (i.e., lifting/lowering activities) were included in this pooled study. Examination of the pooled dataset revealed an increased data distribution of the physical job demands quantified by the RNLE. Research using the pooled dataset will improve the overall statistical power and help address the weaknesses identified in previous studies.

scholarly journals Determination of pain intensity risk factors among school children with nonspecific low back pain

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. PH12-PH15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beyza Akdag ◽  
Ugur Cavlak ◽  
Ali Cimbiz ◽  
Handan Camdeviren
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
School Children ◽  
Low Back

scholarly journals Risk Factors for Continued Opioid Use in Conservative Versus Surgical Management of Low Back Pain Originating From the Sacroiliac Joint

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julius Dengler ◽  
Bengt Sturesson ◽  
Djaya Kools ◽  
Domenico Prestamburgo ◽  
Daniel Cher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Sacroiliac Joint ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Users

Study Design:Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial.Objectives:To identify risk factors for continued opioid use after conservative management (CM) or minimally invasive surgical management (MISM) of low back pain (LBP) originating from the sacroiliac joint.Methods:Patients were randomized either to CM (n = 49) or MISM (n = 52). We documented opioid use, pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Zung depression score (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale) at baseline and at months 3 and 6 after treatment initiation.Results:Compared with opioid nonusers, opioid users at baseline had higher mean levels of disability (ODI 61.5, standard deviation [SD] 13.3 vs ODI 51.5, SD 12.8; P < .01) and higher depression scores (Zung 48.5, SD 8.5, vs Zung 42.2, SD 7.2; P < .01). At 6 months, opioid users had higher 6-month pain levels (VAS 60.4, SD 24.0, vs VAS 42.4, SD 28.2; P < .01), higher disability scores (ODI 50.5, SD 16.2, vs ODI 32.7, SD 19.3; P < .01) and higher depression scores (Zung 47.6, SD 8.0, vs Zung 38.8, SD 8.9; P < .01). Risk factors for continued opioid use at 6 months were patient age (odds ratio [OR] for age = 0.91; P = .02) and an increase in LBP (OR 1.08; P = .02) in the CM group and a lack of improvement in depression scores (OR 1.12; P = .03) in the MISM group.Conclusions:In our patient cohort, the risk of continued opioid use in the treatment of LBP increased not only with pain intensity but also with levels of depression during the course of treatment.

A comparison of peak vs cumulative physical work exposure risk factors for the reporting of low back pain in the automotive industry

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 561-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Norman ◽  
R. Wells ◽  
P. Neumann ◽  
J. Frank ◽  
H. Shannon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
Work Exposure

Low Back Pain in Commercial Airline Pilots

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 940-947
Author(s):  
Matthias Albermann ◽  
Maria Lehmann ◽  
Christian Eiche ◽  
Joachim Schmidt ◽  
Johannes Prottengeier
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
German Population ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Airline Pilots ◽  
Acute Low Back Pain ◽  
Commercial Airline ◽  
Negative Effect

BACKGROUND: In their working life, airline pilots are exposed to particular risk factors that promote nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Because of the varying incidence internationally, we evaluated the point prevalences of acute, subacute, and chronic nonspecific LBP, as well as the current prevalences in German airline pilots. Furthermore, we compared the prevalence to the general German population and to European counterparts.METHODS: An anonymous online survey of 698 participating German airline pilots was evaluated. The impairment between groups was analyzed. Prevalences from our data were compared to existing data.RESULTS: The following point prevalences were found: 8.2% acute, 2.4% subacute, 82.7% chronic LBP; 74.1% of all individuals were suffering from current LBP when answered the questionnaire. A total time spent flying greater than 600 h within the last 12 mo was significantly related to acute nonspecific LBP. Individuals with any type of LBP were significantly impaired compared to those unaffected. It was found that German airline pilots suffer more often from current LBP than the general population and have a higher point prevalence of total LBP than their European counterparts.CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation showed a surprisingly high, previously unidentified, prevalence of nonspecific LBP in German airline pilots. Why German airline pilots suffer more often from LBP remains uncertain. The number of flying hours appears to have a negative effect on developing acute low back pain, but causation cannot be concluded. Other risk factors could not be confirmed.Albermann M, Lehmann M, Eiche C, Schmidt J, Prottengeier J. Low back pain in commercial airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):940947.

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