Table 1.

Examples for patient-reported outcome measures that assess chronic low back pain symptoms [13, 16, 19–21]

Instrument	Outcome	Description
Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1a (ODI 2.1a)	Physical functioning	The ODI is a recommended condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure used to evaluate functional status in patients with back pain. It consists of 10 items: pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life and travelling.
24-item Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-24)	Physical functioning	The RMDQ consists of 24 statements about activity limitations due to back pain, e.g. self-care and walking.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of back pain intensity and Pain Numerical Rating Scale (PNRS)	Pain	A VAS and PNRS ask the patient to rate pain from 0 to 10 (11 point scale) or from 0 to 100 (101 point scale) where 0 is equal to no pain and 10 or 100 is equal to worst possible pain.
Short Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12)	Health-related quality of life	The SF-12 Health Survey is a 12-item questionnaire used to assess generic health outcomes from the patient’s perspective.
Work Ability Index (WAI)	Work ability	The WAI is a validated instrument that assesses the individual work ability. Through a self-assessment questionnaire, the WAI measures a worker’s work ability and helps to define necessary measures for maintaining and promoting work ability, as it enables detecting work-related health risks as early as possible.
Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ)	Work ability	The WLQ assesses the on-the-job impact of chronic health problems and/or treatment (work limitations).
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)	Activities of daily life, participation	The COPM is an individualized, client-centered outcome measure; designed to capture a patient’s self-perception of performance in everyday activities over time.