Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate patients' views about two common outcome measures used
for back pain: Numerical Rating Scales for pain and the Roland-Morris Disability
Questionnaire. SUBJECTS: Thirty-six working adults who had previously sought
primary care for back pain and who could speak and read English. METHOD: Eight
focus groups were conducted to explore participants' views about the 11-point
Numerical Rating Scales and the 24-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.
Each group was led by a facilitator and an interview topic guide was used. Audio
recordings of focus groups were transcribed verbatim. Framework analysis was used
to chart participants' views and an interpretive analysis performed to explain
the findings. RESULTS: Participants reported that neither the Roland-Morris nor
the Numerical Rating Scales captured the complex personal experience of pain or
relevant changes in their condition. The time-frame of assessment was identified
as particularly problematic and the Roland-Morris did not capture relevant
functional domains. CONCLUSION: This study provides empirical data that working
adults with persistent back pain consider these clinical outcome measures largely
inadequate. These measures currently used for back pain may contribute to
misleading conclusions about treatment efficacy and patient recovery.

Langue : ANGLAIS