title: Perceived relative importance of pain-related functions among patients with low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the functional status of patients with low back pain and the perceived importance of pain-related everyday functions assessed in the Oswestry Disability Index.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was based on 219 successive adult patients with low back pain referred to a tertiary clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 168 patients (76.6%) participated in the study, mean age 48.2 years (standard deviation 11.6).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a questionnaire the patients were asked to complete the Oswestry Disability Index and the same domains using visual analogue scales. Subjects were also asked to assess the relative importance of these domains by using a visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sleeping, walking and personal care were the 3 most important functions for both men and women. Patients with low back pain gave more importance to most of the functional abilities that are needed in everyday life and self-management than to the intensity of pain. However, when the patients reported their current experience in functions, greatest difficulty was experienced in lifting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of outcome measure instruments for patients with low back pain could benefit from taking into account patients' perceptions. In addition, functional measures should be weighted according to the relative importance of each function to the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. carita.kemppi@tyks.fi
authors.forename: Carita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kemppi
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laimi
authors.forename: Jouko J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tuominen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires