Low back pain patients in primary care: Subgroups based on the multidimensional pain inventory

Classification of patients into homogeneous subgroups is an important objective in primary care management of low back pain patients. The purpose of this studyis to (a) identify and describe cluster profiles based on self-reported multidimensional pain inventory Scale (MPI) scores among subacute and chronic nonspecific low back pain patients; (b) describe characteristics of the clusters in relation to disability, life satisfaction, functional self-efficacy, and exercise self-efficacy; and (c) compare grouping by clusters based on self-reported MPI scores with grouping by symptom duration. Eighty-eight individuals participated. These had a median lower back pain duration of 7 months (range 1 to 144 months). Three clusters were identified; these were labeled interpersonally distressed, adaptive copers, and dysfunctional. The clusters differed significantly in disability and functional self-efficacy scores, but not in life satisfaction and exercise self-efficacy scores. The results of this study in a primary care setting are discussed in relation to previous results in pain clinic settings.