Low back pain-related misbeliefs: across-sectional study in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction. Pain in the lower back has gained considerable attention within the medical community because of its major socioeconomic impact. Misconceptions and myths are widespread in many communities, especially in developing countries, which affects the prognosis of LBP. Aim of the study. The major goal of this study was to investigate the current LBP-related beliefs among the Saudi Arabian adult population. Methods. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey design was used to investigate the current beliefs related to LBP among 519 Saudi Arabian adults in different areas of Saudi Arabia (East, West, North, South, and Middle regions), conducted by Taif University from January 2023 to August 2023. The survey, including the LBP Beliefs Questionnaire (LBPBQ), demographic questions, and inquiries about LBP history, was made available online on a digital platform. Results. The most prevalent disbeliefs are “Back pain indicates the presence of organic injury or serious disease” (31.2% disagreed), “Back pain means one should refrain from physical activity” (36.61% disagreed), “Bed rest is the mainstay of therapy” (25.05% disagreed), “Remaining physically active is the best remedy against back pain” (38.4% rather agreed on this reversed-score question), “Someone with back pain can do things himself to ease recovery” (45.09% agreed on this reversed-score question), “Psychological factors such as thoughts and feelings can influence pain intensity” (38.73% rather agreed on this reversed-score question). Conclusion. Several misbeliefs related to LBP are still extant in the adult population in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding physical activity, lack of self-control, pain medication, and the need for surgery.