The relationship between the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability scores and the severity of low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the two disability questionnaires and low back pain severity using the visual analog scale (VAS).


METHODS
One hundred sixty-two chiropractic patients with low back pain were interviewed using an interactive microcomputer system. The sources of data were the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires for disability and a VAS for pain severity. All were inherent in the computer interview system.


METHODS
The computer review system was set up in the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic outpatient clinic.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-two consenting new patients from the general community suffering from low back pain who attended the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic outpatient clinic were asked to participate.


METHODS
Main outcome measures were the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires for disability and the VAS for low back pain severity.


RESULTS
There was a moderate correlation between the scores from the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires (r = .77, p < .0001). A low but significant correlation score was found when comparing the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability score with pain severity (0.38, p < .0001, and 0.47, p < .0001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The consequence of pain (disability) appears to have a weak relationship to pain severity. Despite the moderate correlation between the two disability questionnaires, it is suggested that they are not interchangeable.
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Research Department, Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, England.
Eaton
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S
Maxwell
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D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008838:Microcomputers; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires