Prevalence of fear-avoidance belief in patients with neck and back pain seeking physiotherapy.

Abstract

Background: Fear-avoidance beliefs and signs specifically non-organics are considered the psychological factors that have been determined in playing a major role in the advancement of prolonged disability. The current study was directed to explore the prevalence of fear-avoidance belief in patients with neck and back pain seeking physiotherapy and identifying the superior level of fear-avoidance beliefs regarding work or bodily performances which causes chronicity and disability in patients.

Methodology: An observational study was conducted at the Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi-Pakistan, from 1^st Dec 2019 to 29^th Feb 2020. Standard Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FAB-Q) was used to assess the fear level. The queries determined from the questionnaire were distributed into two types; FABQ-work-related and FABQ-physical activity-related. 

Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 45.76 ± 13.75 years. 39.0% patients reported neck pain, whereas 61.0% reported back pain. The prevalence of fear-avoidance belief related to physical activity was 90% and related to work was 91%. The results also showed a significant association between gender and work-related fear-avoidance belief with a p-value of 0.024 (≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: It is concluded that neck and backache sufferers show a high prevalence of fear-avoidance behavior of physical pastime and work score, confining their daily activities and not taking part in any bodily activities due to fear.