VALIDATION OF THE NECESSARY METHODS TO DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY
OF BACK PROBLEMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND THE FACTORS ASSOCIATED
WITH A GREAT RISK OF SUFFERING THEM.
Title.
Evaluation of two questionnaires to determine
the exposure to risk factors for non-specific low back pain
in adolescents and their parents in Mallorca.
Background.
Available data suggest that back disorders
technically known as "mechanical
pathologies of the spine" are increasing in frequency
among adolescents. . Some studies show that subjects who suffer
back problems in adolescence have a greater risk of having
chronic back problems as adults and greater limitations in
their adult lives. In some studies published, the average
salary of those adults who had suffered back problems as adolescents
is also lower than those who did not.
Published studies suggest that, contrary
to what was previously thought, many structural disorders
(such as scoliosis of less than 60%) do not increase the risk
of suffering back pain, and several studies have been made
to try to identify the factors that are truly associated with
a greater risk. However, the factors under suspicion were
numerous and the studies were usually made with samples that
were too small to prove their effect. Also, the use of research
methods that had not been previously validated exposed the
results to an unknown degree of random error. In fact, the
conclusions of these studies on the possible influence of
certain factors were contradictory.
In order to carry out a study
that could confirm or rule out the influence of several factors
possibly associated with a greater risk, it was first necessary
to define research methods that would make it viable to include
broad samples and to evaluate their viability, reliability
and validity.
Objectives.
-
To develop two questionnaires to collect the prevalence
of mechanical pathologies of the spine among adolescents
and their parents, as well as the existence of factors
which could be associated with a greater risk of suffering
them.
-
To evaluate the viability, reliability and validity of
their use.
Methodology.
The study was made with 150 subjects: 50
schoolchildren and their parents or guardians (100) in Mallorca.
The questionnaire for schoolchildren was primarily filled
out by the students at their schools (and supervised by a
study coordinator). A week later, the same questionnaire was
put to them orally.
The students took the questionnaires for the parents home
so the parents could fill them out and return them to the
coordinator through the student. A week later, the coordinator
called the parents and gave them the questionnaire over the
phone. When they filled out the questionnaire for the first
time, neither the students nor their parents knew they were
going to be presented with the questions a second time. Also,
they did not know their answers were going to be checked.
The reliability of the responses and their validity was determined
by comparing them with the available data (for example, the
academic results provided by the students and their parents
in their respective questionnaires were compared with the
school records).
Participants, along with the Foundation's
Science Department:
Council of Health and Consumer Services,
and Council of Education and Culture of the Regional Government
of the Balearic Islands, Illustrious College of Physicians
of the Balearic Islands, Provincial Headquarters of INSALUD
in the Balearic Islands, Provincial Headquarters of the Ministry
of Education and Science in the Balearic Islands, Federation
of Parents' Associations, (FAPA and CONCAPA).
The study was co-funded by the Kovacs Foundation, the Council
of Education and Culture of the Regional Government of the
Balearic Islands and GESA (Gas y Electricidad, SA).
Results
Published in the European Journal of Public
Health (Gil del Real MT, Kovacs FM, Gestoso M, et al. Evaluation
of two questionnaires to determine exposure to risk factors
for non-specific low back pain in Mallorcan schoolchildren
and their parents. 1999; 9(3): 194-199). In brief, they demonstrate
the viability, validity and reliability of the research method
and the defined questionnaires.
|
Home
