Quality of life and health behaviours of patients with low back pain

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and health behaviours and to analyse the relationship between the quality of life and health behaviours in the group of patients with low back pain (LBP). Material and methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 52 patients with LBP (29 female and 23 male, M(age) = 48.96±15.86). The tool used for assessing the quality of life was the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF, Polish version), whereas the methodological basis for investigating health behaviours was the Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI). Results: The analysis revealed that the General Index of Intensity of Health Behaviours (GIIHB) was high in 30.8%, average in 40.4% and low in 28.8% of the respondents. Statistically significant positive relationships were observed between: (1) Positive Thinking (HBI) and: Overall Quality of Life (R=0.42), General Health (R=0.29), Psychological domain (R=0.46) and Environmental domain (R=0.44); (2) between Proper Nutritional Habits (HBI) and Overall Quality of Life (R=0.38), Psychological domain (R=0.28), Environmental domain (R=0.30); (3) between Health Practices (HBI) and: Overall Quality of Life (R=0.31) and Psychological domain (R=0.28); (4) between Preventive Behaviours (HBI) and two domains: Psychological domain (R=0.34) and Environmental domain (R=0.34). GIIHB for the respondents in general was a factor that significantly differentiated quality of life in Psychological domain (p=0.031) and Environmental domain (p=0.026). Conclusion: In general, positive correlations concerning quality of life and health behaviours of the respondents were observed between the Psychological domain and all categories of health behaviours (HBI). Furthermore, positive correlations were found for Overall Quality of Life and Environmental domain with most of HBI categories. In light of these findings, it should be indicated that the focus during therapies for patients with LBP aimed to improve their quality of life should be on education in the field of health behaviours.