the relationship between the three health behaviors and pain scale. Generally, the results showed most participants had a lower quality of health behavior.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC H EALTH
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH BEHAVIOR AND PAIN SCALE IN PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN IN THAILAND Laksana Charoenchai, Anun Chaikoolvatana and Piyaporn Chaiyakul Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand Abstract. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between health behavior and pain scale in patients with low back pain. One hundred eighty patients with low back pain attending the Orthopedic Unit at Sapasithiprasong Hospital in Thailand participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire related to demographic data and preventive health behavior, illness health behavior and sick role health behavior. Statistical analysis was used to calculate means, standard deviations and percentages, multiple regression evaluated the relationship between demographic data and pain scale, and Pearson’s correlation assessed the relationship between the three health behaviors and pain scale. Generally, the results showed most participants had a lower quality of health behavior. The most common causes of low back pain were lifting heavy loads, incorrect positioning and everyday activity (43.9, 17.8 and 10.6%, respectively). The level of participant’s income was found to be statistically relevant to pain scale (p0.05). However, using stepwise analysis, a statistically significant relationhip was seen between income and pain scale (p 60 Marital status Single Married Divorcee/widow/widower Educational level Junior highschool graduate Senior highschool graduate Diploma Bachelor degree Occupation Farmer Cashier Student Housewife Merchant Governmental officer Miscellaneous Income per month (baht) 20,000
81 99
45 55
2 20 54 62 30 12
1.1 11.1 30.0 34.4 16.7 6.7
19 54 7
10.6 85.6 3.9
94 47 13 26
52.2 26.1 7.2 14.4
68 37 2 13 18 40 2
37.8 20.6 1.1 7.2 10.0 22.2 1.1
53 56 31 21 10 9
29.4 31.1 17.2 11.7 5.6 5.0
Analysis showed the overall relationship between health behavior and the pain scale was significant (Table 8).
DISCUSSION The preventive and illness health behaviors were mainly in the areas of “unsatisfac-
Vol 37 No. 5 September 2006
H EALTH BEHAVIOR
AND
PAIN SCALE
IN
PATIENTS
WITH
BACK PAIN
Table 2 Overall health behavior (n=180). Variable 1. Preventive health behaviora 2. Illness health behaviorb 3. Sick role health behaviorc Overall
Χ
SD
15.51 11.38 14.14 41.03
3.99 2.21 2.06 6.19
Quality of health behavior Slightly Slightly Slightly Slightly
Table 3 Quality of preventive health behavior (n=180). Variable 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Keeping up on health news Exercise Postural changing Proper sitting Improper sitting Proper lifting Improper lifting Proper sleep position Improper sleep position
Χ
SD
1.58 1.67 2.02 2.01 1.97 1.45 1.42 1.48 1.88
0.68 0.78 0.80 0.76 0.78 0.69 0.69 0.73 0.80
Quality of health behavior a Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory Slightly unsatisfactory Slightly unsatisfactory Slightly unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory Slightly unsatisfactory
Table 4 Quality of illness health behaviors (n= 180). Variable 11. Drug seeking behavior 12. Traditional massage by uncertified doctor 13. Seeking medical attention when needed 14. Everyday activity while still in pain 15. Resting when pain gets worse
Table 6 Relationship between demographic data and pain scale (n=180). Variables
1. Gender 2. Age 3. Marital status 4. Junior high 5. Senior high 6. Income Stepwise method 7. Occupation 1) Farmer 2) Cashier 3) Governmental officer 4) Merchant a Stepwise
