Factors influencing disability due to low back pain using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale.

Objectives: The aim of this research was to compare the difference in disability caused by back pain using scores from the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QUE) according to gender, acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) groups, specific and nonspecific LBP groups and to identify the factors influencing the degree of LBP disability.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-three patients with LBP participated in this study. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of ODQ and QUE were used to compare the differences between men and women, acute and chronic and specific and nonspecific LBP groups. We identified the factors influencing the disability of LBP using a stepwise multiple regression.

Results: In comparison with the nonspecific LBP group, the VAS, ODQ and QUE scores were significantly higher and the pain duration was significantly longer in the specific LBP group (P < 0.05). A multiple regression equation with VAS and LBP classification explained the 45.4% variance in ODQ and an equation with VAS, LBP classification, pain duration and gender explained 31.1% of the variance in QUE.

Conclusions: The degree of disability from back pain assessed using the ODQ score was influenced by a pain severity and LBP type. Also, QUE score was influenced by a pain severity, LBP type, pain duration and gender. To assess the disability caused by back pain accurately using the ODQ and QUE, various factors affecting the scores of the questionnaire must be considered.