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Study Design: A cohort study.Objective: To investigate the association between psychosocial stress and low back pain (LBP)-related interference with daily living among college students.Summary Of Background Data: Few longitudinal studies have examined the likelihood of developing LBP in the presence of a designated psychosocial stressor. All participants in the present study were suddenly affected by the Great East Japan disaster after enrolment in our cohort study.Methods: The present study was initiated among 95 students at Fukushima Medical University in January 2011. We assessed psychosocial stress in students using the Japanese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (JPSS). Follow-up surveys were conducted in July 2011 and May 2013, analyzing 94 students. Students were then divided into three groups (improved, -19 to -4; Maintained, -3 to +4; Aggravated, +5 to +22) based on the tertile points of JPSS change from baseline to 4 months after the disaster. LBP-related interference with daily living was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire. Linear regression modeling was performed with BPI at 4 months after the disaster as the outcome, and JPSS change, sex, history of LBP, baseline physical activity, and baseline BPI as explanatory variables.Results: We found a significant increase in BPI score for the aggravated stress group (β coefficient, +0.79; 95% confidence interval, +0.06-+1.53), compared with the improved stress group. History of LBP and higher physical activity were also significantly associated with BPI.Conclusion: The present study suggests that perceived psychosocial stress induced by the disaster may be associated with LBP-related interference with daily living among college students in Fukushima.Level Of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background  The Japanese Orthopaedic Association decided to revise the JOA score for low back pain and to develop a new outcome measure. In February 2002, the first survey was performed with a preliminary questionnaire consisting of 60 evaluation items. Based on findings of that survey, 25 items were selected for a draft of the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ). The second survey was performed to confirm the reliability of the draft questionnaire. This article further evaluates the validity of this questionnaire and establishes a measurement scale. Methods  The subjects of this study consisted of 355 patients with low back disorders of any type (201 men, 154 women; mean age 50.7 years). Each patient was asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. Superficial validity was checked in terms of the completion rate for filling out the entire questionnaire. Factor analysis was then performed to evaluate the validity of the questionnaire and establish a measurement scale. Results  As a result of the factor analysis, 25 items were categorized into five factors. The factors were named based on the commonality of the items: social function, mental health, lumbar function, walking ability, and low back pain. To establish a measurement scale for each factor, we determined the coefficient for each item so the difference between the maximum factor scores and minimum factor scores was approximately 100. We adjusted the formula so the maximum for each factor score was 100 and the minimum was 0. Conclusions  We confirmed the validity of the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire and est ablished a measurement scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]