Affiliations: [a] SPINE Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Campus UZ Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium | [b] Pain in Motion International Research Group | [c] Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium | [d] Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia | [e] Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, General Hospital St. Dimpna, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Lieven Danneels, SPINE Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Campus UZ Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Tel.: +32 9 332 26 36; Fax: +32 9 332 38 11; E-mail: lieven.danneels@ugent.be.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a growing need to identify patient pre-treatment characteristics that could predict adherence and outcome following specific interventions. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of adherence and outcome to outpatient multimodal rehabilitation in chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS: A total of 273 CLBP patients participated in an exercise-based rehabilitation program. Patients who completed ⩾ 70% of the treatment course were classified as adherent. Patients showing a post-treatment reduction of ⩾ 30% in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) back pain intensity scores were assigned to the favorable outcome group. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression revealed that higher age, higher ability to perform low-load activities, and higher degrees of kinesiophobia increased the odds to complete the rehabilitation program. By contrast, lower levels of education and back pain unrelated to poor posture increased the odds for non-adherence. Furthermore, a favorable outcome was predicted in case the cause for LBP was known, shorter symptom duration, no pain in the lower legs, no difficulties falling asleep, and short-term work absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment and consideration of patient pre-treatment characteristics is of great importance as they may enable therapists to identify patients with a good prognosis or at risk for non-responding to outpatient multimodal rehabilitation.
