Self-perceived recovery status among Danish people with low back problems; what influences their appraisal after 12 months? 13th International Forum on Low Back Pain Research in Primary Care

Important questions regarding how patients understand their own ‘recovery’ and how recovery progresses over time remain unanswered.
The aim of this study was to retrospectively explore issues and experiences impacting self-perceived recovery among low back pain sufferers.
We conducted a qualitative case study among patients in the Danish primary care setting. Semi-structured, telephonic interviews were scheduled with individuals sampled consecutively and according to number of weekly pain days. A blend of thematic and content analysis was performed.
Thirty-two interviews were conducted with ‘symptoms’, ‘daily life’ and ‘recovery’ emerging as the three main themes. Seventeen respondents considered themselves recovered, 6 were undecided and 9 were not recovered. Self-perceived recovery hinged on the dynamic interaction between pain-related symptom attenuation, evidence of tissue injury/trauma and positive coping experiences. Those unsure of their status, tended to do so on the basis of cognitive dissonance regarding the meaning of recovery and paradoxical scepticism of pain-free periods.
Retrospective self-appraisal appears to be filtered through the individual’s understanding of the nature of their problem, their perceived level of control over their life and whether they trust the character of their illness.