Relationship between Fear-Avoidance Belief, Self Efficacy, Pain and Disability in Individuals with Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Abstract

Understanding the influence of psychosocial factors on disability among patients with chronic mechanical low back pain (CMLBP) may help in  predicting disability. This study was a cross-sectional survey that investigated the relationship among fear-avoidance belief (FAB), self-efficacy, pain  and disability in patients with CMLBP. 106 patients (mean age = 54.36±14.88 years) were recruited from selected hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State,  Nigeria, using a purposive sampling method. Respondents’ disability, FAB, self-efficacy and pain were measured using the Oswestry Low Back Pain  Disability Questionnaire, FAB Questionnaire, Pain Self-Efficacy Scale and Numeric Pain Rating Scale respectively. Data were analysed using  descriptive and inferential statistics of percentages, Spearman’s rank correlation and linear regression with alpha level set at 0.05. There was a  significant positive correlation between FAB and disability (r = 0.588; p < 0.05) as well as between pain and disability (r = 0.514; p < 0.05) while a  significant negative correlation was observed between self-efficacy and disability (r = -0.614; p < 0.05). The regression equation between disability  and FAB (F = 40.630, p < 0.05) is “D = 0.530 (FA) + 14.241”, between disability and self-efficacy (F = 46.744, p < 0.05) is “D = 0.582 (SE) + 59.987” as well  as between disability and pain (F = 32.544, p < 0.05) is “D = 0.493 (P) + 13.765”. FAB, self-efficacy and pain contributed significantly to disability in this  study. Thus, the assessment of psychosocial factors and pain among patients with CMLBP is advocated to identify patients that are prone to  developing disability.