Changes in Quality of Life among Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in the Iranian Traditional Medicine Clinics

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is regarded as one of the most frequent and costly conditions which can affect patients’ quality of life. The current study aims to investigate changes in quality of life among patients with CLBP.

Prospective observational study was performed from December 2021 to February 2022 in Baharan, Sina and Asadabadi traditional medicine clinics, Tabriz, Iran. Patients were recruited using a convenience sampling method, who were aged 20 years or older and had low back pain symptoms for 12 weeks or more.  Data were collected at baseline, one month and two month follow-up by interviewing the patients. The study tool was Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) questionnaire.

Out of 210 participants, 62.4% (131) were female. The change in mean score of life quality at the baseline, one- month and two-month follow-up was 23.76, 35.08 and 40.11, respectively (P = 0.0001).There were significant changes in all eight dimensions of life quality (P = 0.0001).  Additionally, younger Patients (50 ≥) had 1.35 scores of life quality higher than older patients (P = 0.021). Retired, self-employed, housewife and unemployed patients had 6.41, 4.68, 4.18 and 5.38 scores of quality of life lower than office workers, subsequently (P = 0.001). Furthermore, illiterate patients, patients with primary and high school educations had 5.76, 2.61 and 1.33 scores of quality of life less than patients with university degree (p < 0.05).

ITM treatment method could contain several effects on the dimensions of quality of life among patients with CLBP. More detailed investigation is required to achieve greater accuracy.