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. 2011 May;15(5):444.e1–444.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2010.09.011

Table S5.

Summary of cohort studies on informal social support and prognosis of spinal pain.

Author (year) Country Study population (follow up period) Quality score (%) Main study focus Assessment spinal pain Assessment social support Analysis (adjusted or univariate) Study outcome Findings Effect
Cohort studies on prognosis for spinal pain outcome
Hurwitz et al. (2006) USA 91 Impact of psychosocial variables on neck pain and associated disability Four questions on instrumental and emotional support and frequency of support Linear regression (adjusted)
Secondary analysis of RCT Neck disability index 2 + Point reduction in severe and average pain Greater emotional support was shown to have significant effect on average pain reduction OR 2.26 (1.03–4.95)N/S
336 (35%) baseline Pain rating for average and severe pain 5 + Point reduction in neck disability score at 6 months There was no significant effect of emotional support on severe pain or neck disability OR 2.94
268 (79%) Follow up Higher instrumental support was associated with a reduction in neck disability (1.32–6.58)
Health care population invited to take part in RCT (6 month follow up) There was no effect of instrumental support on pain levels (severe/average) N/S



Koleck et al. (2006) France 64 Coping strategies in those with LBP Self report LBP Perceived social support scale (adapted from the Sarason SSQ including quality and availability of support) Principal components analysis (adjusted) Assessment of acute (T1) to chronic stage (T2). PCA to form factors influencing outcome Social support quality was dropped from initial analysis Not reported
99 Baseline Social support availability remained in PCA model as part of ‘perceived control’ factor. Perceived control did not contribute to improvement over time N/S
90 (90%) Follow up VAS pain intensity
Consecutive GP consulters with new episode of nonspecific back pain (12 month follow up)



Muramatsu et al. (1997) Japan 2200 (68%) 93 Sociomedical perspective on the transitions in CLBP Self report question on current experience of LBP (Time 1). Self report question on experience of chronic LBP (Time 2) Emotional and instrumental support from a significant other Logistic and multiple regression (adjusted) Onset of LBP (Time 1) Instrumental and emotional support did not reduce chronic status (back pain at T1 and back pain at T2). N/S
1986 (90%) Follow up Recovery of LBP (Time 2) Instrumental support did not significantly contribute to recovery (back pain T1 to no back pain T2). N/S
General sample of over 60 population (3 year follow up) Emotional support decreased recovery status (back pain T1 to no back pain T2). −2.93%

CLBP – chronic low back pain, LBP – low back pain, β – beta, OR – Odds Ratio, ANOVA – analysis of variance, N/S – not significant, VAS – visual analogue scale.