The Quality of Life in Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Quality of life is a multi-faceted concept and goes beyond an examination merely in terms of physical health. Lower back pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders، and chronic illnesses such as the nonspecific chronic lower back pain have important consequences like an alteration in the quality of life of the person. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of life in people with nonspecific chronic lower back pain. The present study is a descriptive inquiry carried out using the cross-sectional method at the Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Babol، Iran. The sample volume was estimated to be 125 subjects where individuals were evaluated through four questionnaires، namely demographic information، the assessment of the level of disability (Oswestry)، quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF)، and an evaluation of the intensity of the pain. The participants were from an age range of 18 to 58 years whose mean and deviation of pain intensity and disability were 73. 54±32. 21 and 56. 31±69. 16، respectively. In Terms of gender and marital status، no meaningful variation was observed in the physical health، mental health، social relationships، and environmental health variables، but participants with academic education had meaningful differences in all of the above variables compared to individuals from other educational levels. Pain intensity was negatively correlated with general health and mental health، and was positively correlated with the overall disability score. Also، the overall score of disability was negatively correlated with the general quality of life، general health، physical health، mental health، and social relationships، and was positively correlated with the pain intensity. Since pain intensity and disability not only have physical consequences but affect other facets too، future interventions need to consider the physical aspect، and put emphasis on the mental and social improvement of the patients.