Knowledge around back pain and spinal disorders among Saudi patients: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of patients about low back pain and spinal disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2015 to February 2016, and comprised patients presenting with lower back pain. The low back pain knowledge questionnaire was translated to Arabic and distributed, after adding more questions, among patients. The scores were calculated as per the published guidelines. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were 153 patients in the study. The reliability test revealed a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.834 for all items. The overall mean age was 40.2±19.3 years (range: 15-76 years). Besides, 61(39.9%) participants were males and 92(60.1%) were females. The overall median score was 9 (interquartile range: 0-19) out of 24 points. Both educational level and monthly income were found to be dependent variables (p<0.001; p=0.007). . CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with lower back pain had limited knowledge about their condition and the related complications.

The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire: Can we implement it in Saudi Arabia?

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Orthopedic Association designed their back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ) which was proven to be feasible, reliable and valid. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were confirmed when it was implemented in patients with different cultural background. Since the JOABPEQ still has not been utilized in any of the Arabic countries, we present the Arabic version with its validity and reliability. METHODS: After ensuring an optimal forward-backward translation of the JOABPEQ, the Arabic version was distributed among 151 patients visiting our clinics from December 2015 to February 2016. The reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha. The convergent validity was assessed through aggregating and correlating the questionnaire's items with their previously designed and validated subscales described in the JOABPEQ validity study by Fukui et al. (four items for social function, seven for mental health, six for lumbar function, five for walking ability and four for low back pain); Spearman's correlation matrix was used. The correlation coefficient had to be greater than 0.40 for each item with its corresponding subscale to be satisfactory. Scores underwent descriptive analysis, and Mann-Whitney u test was performed to compare between categorical subgroups. RESULTS: 151 spine patients completed the questionnaire. The mean age (range) was 34.9 (10-72) years. The male respondents were 61 (40.4%) and the females were 90 (59.6%). The result of Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency (reliability) was 0.87 for the 25 items. The validity was confirmed since the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.4 for each item with only its relevant subscale. CONCLUSION: the Arabic version of the JOABPEQ is valid, reliable and feasible in assessing patients with spine disorders. We believe the JOABPEQ with its different versions are suitable questionnaires to be used across nations and can serve as a unified tool in conducting research and exchanging information in the future.

Impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus on academic performance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of type 1 diabetes on academic performance. METHODS: Ethnically Saudi students with type 1 diabetes, and age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic status-matched nondiabetic control students were recruited from eight schools. Overall academic grades were recorded, based on the scores obtained in written examinations in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and humanities. RESULTS: Students with type 1 diabetes (n = 36) obtained significantly lower academic grades compared with their nondiabetic control classmates (n = 36) (86.58 ± 1.48 vs 90.62 ± 1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Overall academic performance is significantly lower in students with type 1 diabetes compared with their nondiabetic classmates. This decline in academic performance may be explained by an association between diabetes and cognitive function.