Selected Factors Related to Quality of Life of Low Back Pain among Thai Patients in Orthopedics Clinic at Police General Hospital

Background  :  Low back pain is a very prevalent pain condition that is often associated with increased disability, decreased relationship satisfaction and diminished quality of life.

Objective  :  The purposes of this research were to study the quality of life of low back pain among patients in orthopedics clinic at Police General Hospital and to examine the relationships between variables such as personal factors and job characteristics and environment in working factors and quality of life (QOL).

Measurement :  The samples consisted of 142 low back pain among patients in orthopedics clinic at Police General Hospital. The quality of life questionnaire was tested content validity and reliability with the Alpha of .87. Statistical methods used to analyze the data were frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square correlation.

Results  :  The results of the study revealed that;

1. The overall quality of life of low back pain among patients in orthopedics clinic at Police General Hospital was at the moderate level with mean score  of  3.30 .
2. Personal factors were not related to quality of life.
3. Factors which were statistically significant related to quality of life. (p< 0.05) included :  bending and twisting while working and the weight of the load lifted, the surface of floor and vibrated feeling while working.

Conclusion  :  Increasing higher QOL of low back pain among patients, nurses should advise to properly enhance prevention in their work is a key component to decrease some factors related to QOL.