Affiliations: Abteilung Gesundheitsforschung Institut für
Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Universität Bern, Niesenweg 6, 3012
Bern, Schweiz. Tel.: +41 (0)31 631 3512; Fax: +41 (0)31 631 3430; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Background: The reinforcement of adaptive coping strategies is an
integral part of psycho-social interventions for pain management. The concept
of coping resources consists of coping strategies that are subjectively
experienced as adaptive by the patient. For this study, a questionnaire was
developed that helps doctors to identify the coping resources of patients. The
aims of the analyses presented in this study were 1) to explore possible
associations between the coping resources with achieved copying behaviors,
quality of life, pain-related factors and socio-demographic characteristics and
2) to identify patients with back pain who use different coping resources and
to describe their respective socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: This study included 460 persons with current low back pain. A 12- item
questionnaire was developed, assessing the coping resources of patients with
low back pain. The associations between coping resources, realized coping
behaviors, quality of life, pain-related factors and socio-demographic
characteristics were examined using analyses of variance. For the
identification of patients with differences in coping resources, a cluster analysis was conducted. Results: The new questionnaire consists of seven
dimensions of coping resources: social contact, social support, knowledge about
back pain, exercise, hobbies/enjoyment, spirituality, and cognitive strategies.
Cluster-analysis identified four different meaningful patient groups: a group
with overall high coping resources (1), a group with overall low coping
resources (2), a group with particularly low social coping resources (3) and a
group with particularly highly distinctive "knowledge and active
coping" (4). Differences between the groups in socio-demographic
and clinical characteristics were found. Discussion: The new questionnaire can
provide a comprehensive view about the self-help potential of patients in an
efficient way. The results of the questionnaire can be used during consultation
to support patients' own coping resources.
Keywords: Coping resources, back pain, self management, general practitioner, health services research
