title: How does chronic back pain influence quality of life in koreans: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impact of chronic low back pain (CLBP) on individuals' quality of life; to understand current treatment practices and level of satisfaction with treatment in patients with CLBP.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Assessing subjective, patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life is essential to health care research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Influences of the CLBP were analyzed via a questionnaire, which contained the character of CLBP, effect of pain management, Korean version Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI) and Korean version of 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12v2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3,121 subjects who responded, 67.3% had moderate to severe pain; 43.5% presented prolonged CLBP of more than two years; and 32.4% had suffered from sleep disturbance due to pain. 22.8% of the patients were not satisfied with current pain management. The mean K-ODI score was 37.63; and it was positively correlated with the mean pain intensity (r=0.6, p<0.001). The SF-12v2 result was negatively correlated with mean pain intensity (PCS: r=-0.5, p<0.001;
  r=-0.4, p<0.001) and also negatively correlated with the K-ODI score (PCS: r=-0.75, p<0.001;
  r=-0.5, p<0.001). The conformity between patients and doctors in pain assessment was fair (κ=0.2463).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CLBP negatively affects quality of life. Of total 22.8% of the patients were not satisfied with current pain management. Such needs to be taken more seriously by doctors for improvement of satisfaction and quality of life in patients with CLBP.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors: Yong Soo
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Dong Jun
authors: DJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Kyu Yeol
authors: KY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea.
authors: Ye Soo
authors: YS
authors: Park
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Kyu Jung
authors: KJ
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae Hyup
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Clinical Research, Janssen Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyou Young
authors: HY
authors: Rhim
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Byung Joon
authors: BJ
authors: Shin
keywords: Assessment; Chronic low back pain; Quality of life