The burden of neck pain: its meaning for persons with neck pain and healthcare providers, explored by concept mapping

• Published in: Quality of life research 2016-05, Vol.25 (5), p.1219-1225
• Main Authors: van Randeraad-van der Zee, Carlijn H., Beurskens, Anna J. H. M., Swinkels, Raymond A. H. M., Pool, Jan J. M., Batterham, Roy W., Osborne, Richard H., de Vet, Henrica C. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Back pain; CLINICAL AND POLICY APPLICATIONS; Clinical outcomes; Cluster analysis; Cognitive models; Community participation; Complaining; Concept mapping; Concept of mind; Disabilities; Disabled Persons - psychology; Health care industry; Health Personnel; Humans; Low back pain; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neck pain; Neck Pain - psychology; Pain; Physical therapy; Population; Public Health; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Quality of Life Research; Research Design; Research methodology; Sociology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Validity
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-1149-6

Purpose To empirically define the concept of burden of neck pain. The lack of a clear understanding of this construct from the perspective of persons with neck pain and care providers hampers adequate measurement of this burden. An additional aim was to compare the conceptual model obtained with the frequently used Neck Disability Index (NDI). Methods Concept mapping, combining qualitative (nominal group technique and group consensus) and quantitative research methods (cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling), was applied to groups of persons with neck pain (n = 3) and professionals treating persons with neck pain (n = 2). Group members generated statements, which were organized into concept maps. Group members achieved consensus about the number and description of domains and the researchers then generated an overall mind map covering the full breadth of the burden of neck pain. Results Concept mapping revealed 12 domains of burden of neck pain: impaired mobility neck, neck pain, fatigue/concentration, physical complaints, psychological aspects/consequences, activities of daily living, social participation, financial consequences, difficult to treat/difficult to diagnose, difference of opinion with care providers, incomprehension by social environment, and how person with neck pain deal with complaints. All ten items of the NDI could be linked to the mind map, but the NDI measures only part of the burden of neck pain. Conclusion This study revealed the relevant domains for the burden of neck pain from the viewpoints of persons with neck pain and their care providers. These results can guide the identification of existing measurements instruments for each domain or the development of new ones to measure the burden of neck pain.