Evaluation of the correlation between the Istanbul Low Back Pain Disability Index, Back Pain Functional Scale and other back pain disability scales in Turkish patients with low back pain

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is an important health problem that may cause functional loss. Several back pain disability scales have been developed in different languages. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluates the correlation between the Istanbul Low Back Pain Disability Index (ILBPDI) the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS) and other back pain disability scales in patients with mechanical low back pain. METHODS: Included in the study were 105 patients who presented to our outpatient clinics and who were diagnosed with mechanical low back pain. The ILBPDI, BPFS, Quebec back pain disability scale (QBPDS) and Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (ODI) were administered to all participants, and Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded. RESULTS: A strongly negative correlation was identified between ILBPDI and BPFS (p < 0.05), and a strongly positive correlation was noted between ILBPDI and QBPDS, ODI and VAS. CONCLUSION: A strong correlation exists between ILBPDI and BPFS, and a further strong correlation between ILBPDI ODI and QBPDS. These questionnaires can be used interchangeably to evaluate disability associated with chronic mechanical low back pain.