Associations between measures of socio-economic status, beliefs about back pain, and exposure to a mass media campaign to improve back beliefs

Abstract

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and costly healthcare problems worldwide. Disability from LBP is associated with maladaptive beliefs about the condition, and such beliefs can be influenced by public health interventions. While socioeconomic status (SES) has been identified as an important factor in health literacy and inequalities, not much is known about the association between SES and beliefs about LBP. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between measures of SES and the belief that one should stay active through LBP in a representative sample of the general population in Alberta, Canada. We also examined the association between measures of SES and self-reported exposure to a LBP mass media health education campaign.MethodsPopulation-based surveys from 2010 through 2014 were conducted among 9572 randomly selected Alberta residents aged 18–65 years. Several methods for measuring SES, including first language, education, employment status, occupation, and annual household income, were included in multivariable logistic regression modeling to test associations between measures of SES and outcomes.ResultsUnivariable analysis showed that age, language, education, employment, marital status, and annual household income were significantly associated with the belief that one should stay active through LBP. In multivariable analysis, income was the variable most strongly correlated with this belief (odds ratios ranged from 1.04 to 1.62 for the highest income category, p = 0.005). Univariable analysis for exposure to the campaign showed age, language, education, employment, and occupation to be significantly associated with self-reported exposure, while only education (p = 0.01) and age (p = 0.001) remained significant in multivariable analysis.ConclusionsIndividuals with higher annual income appear more likely to believe that one should stay active during an episode of LBP. Additionally, targeted information campaigns are recalled more by low SES groups and may thus assist in reducing health disparities. More research is needed to fully understand the association between socioeconomic factors and LBP and to target campaigns accordingly.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4387-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fear-avoidance beliefs are associated with exercise adherence: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) among female healthcare workers with recurrent low back pain

“…This classification is partly insufficient: it is difficult to place education level, which is a socio-demographic background factor, into any of those categories. Socio-economic status is associated with back-related beliefs: those with high socio-economic status are more prone to believe that one should stay active regardless LBP [57]. Education level has been shown to affect adherence to exercise progression among people with chronic LBP [58], strength training [56], and leisure-time physical activity [59].…”

Association of Pain, Severe Pain, and Multisite Pain with the Level of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Severely Obese Adults: Baseline Data from the DieTBra Trial

“…Studies have shown that low economic class and financial concerns are associated with severe pain and widespread pain in several body regions [63][64][65][66][67][68]. In contrast, those with higher incomes tend to have a healthier life, live longer, and suffer less from illness and disability [69][70][71].…”

Health literacy, pain intensity and pain perception in patients with chronic pain

“…Furthermore, patients searching for information should be actively supported by their physicians. Future research should investigate the personal attitude and competences of physicians about knowledge transfer with an individual approach and also including community-based initiatives and mass media campaigns and HL [ 43 , 44 ]. Another aspect that should receive attention is the difference between the pain intensity measured by different instruments.…”