Highlights
- •We used collaborative modeling to evaluate how LBP patients conceptualize their condition.
- •Patients created mental models with greatest weight on biomechanical factors.
- •Patient views contrast the psychological bias of clinicians and researchers.
- •Mental models can be used as a possible method to understand how patients view their condition.
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) is complex. This study aimed to use collaborative modeling to
evaluate conceptual models that individuals with LBP have of their condition, and
to compare these models with those of researchers/clinicians. Twenty-eight individuals
with LBP were facilitated to generate mental models, using “fuzzy cognitive maps,”
that represented conceptualization of their own LBP and LBP “in general.” “Components”
(ie, causes, outcomes and treatments) related to pain, disability and quality of life
were proposed, along with the weighted “Connections” between Components. Components
were classified into thematic categories. Weighting of Connections were summed for
each Component to judge relative importance. Individual models were aggregated into
a metamodel. When considering their own condition, participants’ models included 19(SD = 6)
Components and 43(18) Connections with greatest weight on “Biomechanical” components.
When considering LBP in general, models changed slightly. Patient models contrasted
the more complex models of researchers/clinicians (25(7) Components; 77(42) Connections),
with most weight on “Psychological” components. This study provides unique insight
into how individuals with LBP consider their condition, which is largely biomedical
and narrower than clinician/researcher perspectives. Findings highlight challenges
for changing public perception of LBP, and provide a method with potential utility
to understand how individuals conceptualize their condition.
Perspective
Collaborative modeling was used to understand how individuals with low back pain conceptualize
their own condition, the condition in general, and compare this with models of expert
researchers/clinicians. Data revealed issues in how individuals with back pain conceptualize
their condition, and the method's potential utility for clinical evaluation of patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 16, 2022
Accepted:
December 27,
2021
Received in revised form:
November 25,
2021
Received:
August 20,
2021
Footnotes
Conflicts of Interest: PH and JS are supported by fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (APP1194937, APP1157199, respectively). The funding source(s) had no involvement in study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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© 2022 by United States Association for the Study of Pain, Inc.
