Assessment of the Health Related Quality of Life of Patients with Low Back Pain under Conservative Treatment

Background: Low back pain influences the physical and social functioning and welfare of the general population. The quality of life of patients with low back pain is considered an important outcome for a more comprehensive assessment of their objective and subjective health status. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate health related quality of life in patients with low back pain before and after non-surgical treatment. Method: The study was conducted in an orthopaedic department of a district General Hospital of Crete, during the second half of 2008, with a population sample of 80 patients. The research instrument used was the SF-36 questionnaire, which measures patients’ physical and social functioning and their general and mental health status. The assessment was applied during admission to the hospital, at discharge and one month later. Results: Patients with low back pain showed an improvement in the level of health related quality of life following conservative treatment relation. The SF-36 score was higher than at admission, both immediately after treatment (the mean of summary physical health scale rose from 29.77 to 41.06) and one month after discharge (mean of summary physical health scale rose from 29.77 to 44.29). Similar results were noted for the summary mental health scale. Conclusions: Conservative treatment of low back pain can be effective in improving the quality of life of patients, as measured by the SF-36. It appears that the SF-36 is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the quality of life in orthopaedic patients. In the future it can also be used as an indicator for the assessment of effectiveness between two different forms of treatment.