Assessment of the quality of life of people with lower back pain

This study evaluated the quality of life of individuals with lower back pain. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 people who consulted the Baghdad Medical Center in Baghdad, Iraq, with the diagnosis of low back pain, between December 20, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Data were collected with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument) scale. The data analysis evaluated the scale and sub-dimension total scores as mean±standard deviation, median, and min.-max. Descriptive statistics were made by giving the frequency and percentage values of categorical variables obtained from sociodemographic and clinical information. An independent t-test was used to compare groups for normal distribution and the Mann-Whitney U test for non-normal distribution in continuous data type. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used since no normal distribution reached more than two groups. In case of significance, post hoc test Bonferroni analysis was applied for pairwise comparisons. Situations where the "p" value was below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. According to the research findings, education, income level, and employment status variables significantly affected the quality of life of individuals with lower back pain (p≤0.05). Age, gender, and marital status variables did not create a significant difference (p≥ 0.05). The severity of pain is essential in maintaining physical role functionality. The study's results revealed that lower back pain has a direct negative impact on the quality of life, as emphasized in the literature in general, accompanied by some variables. Developing and implementing other supportive care and treatments, especially pain relief, for the quality of life of individuals with low back pain is essential regarding the course of the disease. Evaluating the impact of lower back pain on quality of life is essential in ensuring that individuals can continue their daily life functions and prevent the risks that may arise.