Correlation among physical impairments, pain, disability, and patient satisfaction in patients with chronic neck pain.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlations among pain, physical impairments, disability, and patient satisfaction in patients with chronic neck pain.


METHODS
A longitudinal cohort study with 6-month follow-up.


METHODS
Institutional practice.


METHODS
Subjects (N=218) with chronic neck pain.


METHODS
Subjects were treated with different physiotherapy modalities.


METHODS
Data were obtained for self-reported disability, verbal numeric pain scale, patient satisfaction, and 2 measures of physical impairments during the initial visit, at 6 weeks, and finally at 6 months.


RESULTS
The correlation among 4 sets of measurements varied. Moderate correlation was noted between disability and patient satisfaction ( r range, .50-.65), and between disability and pain ( r range, .55-.63). A fair relationship was found between pain and patient satisfaction ( r range, .43-.48), but only weak relationships were found between physical impairments and pain ( r range, -.08 to -.25). The correlations tended to increase in the follow-up assessments.


CONCLUSIONS
No strong correlations were found among disability, patient satisfaction, pain, and physical impairments although the correlations tended to increase in the follow-up assessments. The findings support the suggestion that clinicians should address as many relevant aspects of a presenting clinical entity as possible in the management of chronic neck pain.
Chiu
Thomas T
TT
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Hong Kong, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. rstchiu@polyu.edu.hk
Lam
Tai-Hing
TH
Hedley
Anthony J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction