Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis
ObjectivesThe current study used a network analysis approach to explore the complexity of attitudes and beliefs held in people with and without low back pain (LBP). The study aimed to (1) quantify the adjusted associations between individual items of the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ),...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1327791/full |
| _version_ | 1797347860741619712 |
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| author | Bernard X. W. Liew Ben Darlow |
| author_facet | Bernard X. W. Liew Ben Darlow |
| author_sort | Bernard X. W. Liew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesThe current study used a network analysis approach to explore the complexity of attitudes and beliefs held in people with and without low back pain (LBP). The study aimed to (1) quantify the adjusted associations between individual items of the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ), and (2) identify the items with the strongest connectivity within the network.MethodsThis is a secondary data analysis of a previously published survey using the Back-PAQ (n = 602). A nonparametric Spearman’s rank correlation matrix was used as input to the network analysis. We estimated an unregularised graphical Gaussian model (GGM). Edges were added or removed in a stepwise manner until the extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC) did not improve. We assessed three measures of centrality measures of betweenness, closeness, and strength.ResultsThe two pairwise associations with the greatest magnitude of correlation were between Q30–Q31 [0.54 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.60)] and Q15–Q16 [0.52 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.61)]. These two relationships related to the association between items exploring the influence of attentional focus and expectations (Q30–Q31), and feelings and stress (Q15–Q16). The three items with the greatest average centrality values, were Q22, Q25, and Q10. These items reflect beliefs about damaging the back, exercise, and activity avoidance, respectively.ConclusionBeliefs about back damage, exercise, and activity avoidance are factors most connected to all other beliefs within the network. These three factors may represent candidate targets that clinicians can focus their counseling efforts on to manage unhelpful attitudes and beliefs in people experiencing LBP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:55:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01a8157543ce4422868f4b81af45cbab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:55:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-01a8157543ce4422868f4b81af45cbab2024-01-24T04:40:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2024-01-011110.3389/fmed.2024.13277911327791Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysisBernard X. W. Liew0Ben Darlow1School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United KingdomDepartment of Primary Healthcare and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, New ZealandObjectivesThe current study used a network analysis approach to explore the complexity of attitudes and beliefs held in people with and without low back pain (LBP). The study aimed to (1) quantify the adjusted associations between individual items of the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ), and (2) identify the items with the strongest connectivity within the network.MethodsThis is a secondary data analysis of a previously published survey using the Back-PAQ (n = 602). A nonparametric Spearman’s rank correlation matrix was used as input to the network analysis. We estimated an unregularised graphical Gaussian model (GGM). Edges were added or removed in a stepwise manner until the extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC) did not improve. We assessed three measures of centrality measures of betweenness, closeness, and strength.ResultsThe two pairwise associations with the greatest magnitude of correlation were between Q30–Q31 [0.54 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.60)] and Q15–Q16 [0.52 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.61)]. These two relationships related to the association between items exploring the influence of attentional focus and expectations (Q30–Q31), and feelings and stress (Q15–Q16). The three items with the greatest average centrality values, were Q22, Q25, and Q10. These items reflect beliefs about damaging the back, exercise, and activity avoidance, respectively.ConclusionBeliefs about back damage, exercise, and activity avoidance are factors most connected to all other beliefs within the network. These three factors may represent candidate targets that clinicians can focus their counseling efforts on to manage unhelpful attitudes and beliefs in people experiencing LBP.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1327791/fulllow back painpsychological factorsbeliefsnetwork analysisattitudes |
| spellingShingle | Bernard X. W. Liew Ben Darlow Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis Frontiers in Medicine low back pain psychological factors beliefs network analysis attitudes |
| title | Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis |
| title_full | Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis |
| title_short | Exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain—a network analysis |
| title_sort | exploring the complexity of commonly held attitudes and beliefs of low back pain a network analysis |
| topic | low back pain psychological factors beliefs network analysis attitudes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1327791/full |
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