OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the two disability questionnaires and low back pain severity using the visual analog scale (VAS).

DESIGN: One hundred sixty-two chiropractic patients with low back pain were interviewed using an interactive microcomputer system. The sources of data were the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires for disability and a VAS for pain severity. All were inherent in the computer interview system.

SETTING: The computer review system was set up in the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic outpatient clinic.

PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty-two consenting new patients from the general community suffering from low back pain who attended the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic outpatient clinic were asked to participate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures were the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires for disability and the VAS for low back pain severity.

RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between the scores from the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability questionnaires (r = .77, p < .0001). A low but significant correlation score was found when comparing the St. Thomas and Oswestry disability score with pain severity (0.38, p < .0001, and 0.47, p < .0001, respectively).

CONCLUSION: The consequence of pain (disability) appears to have a weak relationship to pain severity. Despite the moderate correlation between the two disability questionnaires, it is suggested that they are not interchangeable.

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