Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the use of standard outcome measures in assessing individuals attending a functional restoration programme with chronic back pain.
Design: Prospective collection of data from standard outcome measures used to assess patients attending a functional restoration programme. Data was collected before the start of the programme and six weeks, six months and one year after completion of the programme.
Subjects: There were 69 individuals (33 males and 36 females) with an average age of 41 years, who attended the programme from February 1999 to February 2001.
Outcome measures: Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form 36 (SF36), the Distress Risk Assessment Measures (MSP and MZDI)
Results: During the follow-up period, outcome scores showed only modest improvement compared to pre-programme scores. This was not necessarily reflected in the clinical and functional progress of patients.
Conclusions: Standard outcome measure may not necessarily reflect patient response to rehabilitation programmes.
Abstracts prepared by Mr. A. J. Stirling, FRCS, and Miss A. Weaver. Correspondence should be addressed to Miss A. Weaver at the Research and Teaching Centre, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
BritSpine 2002, the second combined meeting of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons, the British Cervical Spine Society, The British Scoliosis Society and the Society for Back Pain Research, took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham UK between 27th February and 1st March 2002. The following presentations and posters were given and displayed.