Identifying domains of health-related quality of life: the perspective of individuals with low back pain

BACKGROUND: Identifying the most relevant HRQOL domains for LBP from the perspective of individuals with lived experience with LBP is necessary to prioritize domains that will be most informative for evaluating the impact of pain and interventions while overcoming the burden of using long-form assessment tools. This study aimed to identify which domains of HRQOL are most important from the perspective of individuals with chronic LBP. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 individuals with LBP. Participants first responded to questions related to the impact of their LBP on their HRQOL. Then, using a card sorting method, they were asked to select and indicate HRQOL domains that were most relevant to them from a list of 18 cards that represented different HRQOL domains. Participants were asked to explain the reasoning for their selection. RESULTS: Participants identified physical activity restriction (50%), severity of pain (31%), social activity restriction (23%), and work performance restriction (23%) as the most important domains. The most frequently selected HRQOL domains during card sorting were social function (69%), pain intensity (62%), physical function (58%), fatigue (58%), and pain interference (42%). CONCLUSION: The most important domains of HRQOL perceived by participants were pain intensity, social function, physical function, fatigue, and pain interference. Identifying these domains will inform clinical decision-making and guide treatment choices for health care providers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41687-023-00597-5.