Table 3 Mapping the themes identified in coding to the RMDQ items
RMDQ - item number and summary | Overarching concept | Theme | Subcode | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 – I stay at home most of the time because of my back | Other | Relationships and Socializing | Missing events/staying at home | Participants reported missing events due to the functional limitations they experience from their CLBP. This is a functional consequence of the physical limitations experienced. Those who engaged in paid work also reported missed work days due to pain. |
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
2 – I change position frequently | Mobility | Sitting and standing | Changing position to get comfortable | Participants reported having to change positions regularly to reduce their CLBP. This created problems with various activities that require sitting or standing in one position for a long period of time. Thus, this a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. Driving and certain types of work are examples of specific activities discussed in relation to this. |
Activities | Driving* | Remaining in the same position for long periods of time | ||
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
3 – I walk more slowly | Mobility | Walking | Walking more slowly | Participants reported having to walk more slowly because of the pain and need for smaller steps/avoiding tripping. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
4 – Not doing jobs around home | Mobility | Lifting | Pain while lifting Avoiding lifting | Participants reported that they cannot do jobs around the home like they used to because of their pain and other physical limitations due to their CLBP. Participants talked about engaging in a range of chores such as mopping the floor or taking the trash out, as well as the action needed to perform jobs such as lifting things, Thus, this is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
Activities | Chores/housework | Avoiding/not doing as many jobs around the home Being slower/not getting as much done | ||
5 – I use a handrail to get upstairs | Mobility | Stairs | Using a handrail on stairs/steps | Participants reported having to use a handrail when using stairs/steps because of pain and limited mobility due to CLBP. Thus, this is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
6 – I lie down to rest | Mobility | Lying down | – | Participants identified this as important during the CD discussion, although this was not spontaneously discussed during CE. Participants reported lying down to rest because of their pain, and although not directly stated it was implied that this impacts upon functional ability as time spent lying down limits ability to take part fully in other daily activities. Work was an example of a specific activity impacted by the need to take a break, lie down and rest by those who engaged in paid work. |
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
7 – Hold on to get out of an easy chair | Mobility | Sitting and standing | Holding something to get in/out of chair | Participants reported needing to hold something to get out of a chair due to pain and limited mobility. This is a physical functioning due to CLBP. |
8 – I try and get other people to do things for me | Mobility | Bending and kneeling | Pain while bending Pain while kneeling Avoiding bending/kneeling | Participants reported that their inability to do all their usual jobs, for example, because of being unable to lift things, having pain while bending and kneeling, meant that they would now get other people to do things for them. This is an everyday functional consequence of the physical limitations experienced. Washing (self) and housework are examples of specific activities discussed in relation to this, in addition this also came up for some individuals in relation to tasks that needed to be done whilst at work. |
Mobility | Lifting | Pain while lifting Avoiding lifting | ||
Activities | Chores/housework | Getting other people to do jobs | ||
Activities | Washing* | Difficulties with washing | ||
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
9 – I get dressed more slowly | Activities | Dressing | Getting dressed more slowly | Participants reported they took longer to get dressed due to pain and limited mobility. This is a physical functioning limitation caused by CLBP. |
10 – I only stand for short periods | Mobility | Sitting and standing | Unable to stand for long periods of time | Participants reported that they could not stand for long periods because of their pain. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
11 – I try not to bend or kneel | Mobility | Bending and kneeling | Pain while bending Pain while kneeling Avoiding bending/kneeling | Participants reported that they could not bend or kneel because of their pain and so avoided doing this. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. Washing (self) and getting in/out of a car are examples of specific activities discussed in relation to this, as well as work for those who usually did work involving this type of action. |
Activities | Washing* | Difficulties with washing | ||
Activities | Driving* | Getting in and out of cars | ||
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
12 – I find it difficult to get out of a chair | Mobility | Sitting and standing | Difficulty getting out of a chair | Participants reported difficulty with getting out of a chair due to pain and mobility limitations caused by their CLBP. This is a physical functioning limitation of CLBP. |
13 – Back is painful most of the time | Pain | Pain | Overall pain Background pain Extreme pain | Participants reported that they experienced pain, with some reporting a background pain that was present most of the time as a key symptom of the condition leading to the physical functioning limitations described. |
14 – Turn over in bed | Other | Sleep | Cannot get comfortable | Participants reported that because of their pain, they struggled to get comfortable in bed and would toss and turn a lot. This created problems with sleep and is a physical functioning limitation as sleep is a daily function. |
15 – Appetite is not very good | Other | Appetite | – | Participants identified this as important during the CD, although this was not spontaneously discussed during CE. Participants reported that when they were in pain they could lose their appetite. This is an example of a consequence of pain which could have everyday impact. |
16 - Putting on socks (or stockings) | Activities | Dressing | Trouble putting on socks, shoes, and trousers | Participants reported that they had trouble putting on socks, shoes, and trousers because of pain and mobility limitations. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
17 – Walk short distances | Mobility | Walking | Can only walk short distances | Participants reported they now can only walk short distances because of pain and mobility limitations. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
18 – Sleep less well | Other | Sleep | Hard to fall asleep Waking up | Participants reported that because of their pain they found it hard to fall asleep and would often wake up during the night. This created problems with sleep and is a physical functioning limitation since sleep is a daily function. |
19 – I get dressed with help | Mobility | Bending and kneeling | Pain while bending Pain while kneeling Avoiding bending/kneeling | Participants reported that they require help when getting dressed because of pain and mobility limitations. This is an everyday functional consequence of the physical functional limitations experienced. Bending and kneeling were discussed as one of the direct reasons for needing help (eg, cannot reach feet, pick items off the floor). |
Activities | Dressing | Needing help to get dressed | ||
20 – I sit down most of the day | Mobility | Sitting and standing | Sitting down more | Participants reported that they would often sit in a chair more to rest because of their pain. This is a functional limitation due to CLBP. Some participants also discussed how the need for rest could impact their work. |
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
21 – I avoid heavy jobs | Mobility | Lifting | Pain while lifting Avoiding lifting | Participants reported that they would avoid heavy jobs around the home (or for some also at work) because of pain and mobility limitations. Participants discussed that they would avoid undertaking jobs or activities that involved a lot of heavy lifting or movement such as lifting heavy objects, moving plant pots, heavy boxes, moving furniture, etc. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
Activities | Chores/housework | Avoiding/not doing as many jobs around the home | ||
Activities | Work* | Not able to work or do same job/taking a break at work | ||
22 – Irritable and bad tempered with people | Others | Mood | Moody, irritable and short-tempered | Participants indicated that because of their pain and physical limitations they would become moodier and more irritable then they were before. This is an emotional consequence of the symptoms and functional limitations experienced. |
23 – I go upstairs more slowly | Mobility | Stairs | Go upstairs more slowly | Participants reported that they move upstairs slower than they used to because of pain and mobility limitations. This is a physical functioning limitation due to CLBP. |
24 – I stay in bed most of the time | Mobility | Lying down | – | Participants identified this as important during the CD, although this was not spontaneously discussed during CE. Participants reported lying down to rest because of their pain and staying in bed when it was at its worst and although not directly stated it was implied that this impacts upon functional ability as time spent staying in bed limits the ability to take part fully in other daily activities. |