Revue du rhumatisme (English ed.)
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We conducted a prospective observational study during the winter of 1994-1995 in a representative national sample of 2,406 patients aged 18 to 65 years seen in primary care settings for acute low back pain of less than 48 hours' duration. The following data were collected: demographic, social and clinical characteristics at inclusion; treatments prescribed throughout the episode, functional impairment and restriction of usual activities. These data were used to evaluate direct costs (health costs) and indirect costs (sickness payments). ⋯ Among economically active patients, 82% were put on sick leave, for a mean duration of 8.4 +/- 4 days and 18.6% were reported as having work-related low back pain. The mean cost of outpatient care for the episode of low back pain was 1,021 French francs (FF), most of which was contributed by physical therapy (41.6%), physicians' fees (23.9%) and investigations (16%). Mean sickness payments were 821 FF per patient in the economically active subgroup and 523 FF per patient in the overall study population.
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Validation of the French version of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire in chronic low back pain patients.
To translate and to validate the metrological properties of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire, an instrument designed to evaluate the impact of low back pain on four aspects of patients' lives: daily activities, work and leisure activities, anxiety/depression and social interest. ⋯ The French version of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire is valid, reproducible, and sensitive to change in chronic low back pain patients.