J Occup Environ Med. 2009 Feb;51(2):185-94. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e318192bcf8.

The Back Disability Risk Questionnaire for work-related, acute back pain: prediction of unresolved problems at 3-month follow-up.

Author information

1: Liberty Mutual Center for Disability Research, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA. william.shaw@libertymutual.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the validity of the Back Disability Risk Questionnaire (BDRQ) to predict developing chronic back disability.

METHODS:

Five hundred nineteen working adults (67% male) seeking outpatient care for acute, work-related back pain (<or=14 days) completed the BDRQ. After the initial medical evaluation, clinicians provided prognostic impressions in a 10-item questionnaire. Pain, functional limitation, and work status were assessed at 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS:

In multivariate analyses, the presence of persistent pain, functional limitation, or impaired work status (31.4%) was predicted by six BDRQ questions: injury type, work absence preceding medical evaluation, job tenure, prior back surgery, worries about re-injury, expectation for early return-to-work, and stress. Classification accuracy at 3 months was 76.3%. Initial clinician impressions showed no multivariate associations with outcomes.