631 - Predicting Disability Status in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP): The Role of the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire (PSOCQ)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the utility of the PSOCQ as a proxy measure for evaluating patient attitudes towards self-managed treatment protocols. A focus was placed on the PSOCQ predictive value for disability among patients receiving treatment for chronic low back pain.

Design: In a prospective convenience study conducted at an outpatient hospital-based spine clinic, 50 patients aged 18 to 65, receiving treatment for chronic low back pain, were categorized into PSOCQ stages based on self-reported surveys. Two self-reported surveys, PSOCQ and Oswestry Disability Index, were administered at baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits. The PSOCQ categories contemplation, action, and maintenance, were consolidated into a single group, deemed Contemplation Total (CT) which was compared to the Pre-contemplation (PC) group.

Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (F(47)=8.17, p< 0.001) determined that ODI at follow-up was significantly impacted by patient baseline PSOCQ (p< 0.05). That is, patients in the PC group (n=9) reported higher levels of disability at all three time points compared to those in the CT group (n=41). At baseline, PC patients had an average ODI score of 33% (SE=3.57) as compared to CT patients who on average had ODI scores of 22% (SE=1.67).

Conclusions: The ability to predict disability status in patients over time is vital to tailoring individualized treatment plans for patients experiencing CLBP. This study demonstrated the valuable predictive utility of PSOCQ at both baseline and follow-up visits for assessing self-reported disability status among patients receiving treatment for chronic low back pain. The incorporation of PSOCQ or similar assessments can empower clinicians to tailor individualized treatment plans and ultimately enhance clinical outcomes.