Retirement as a Factor of Treatment Adherence in Patients with Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is a major medical and social issue. It degrades the quality of life, as well as affects the psyche, emotions, and volition, thus preventing full social integration. The disabling effect of chronic back pain becomes especially relevant during a change of social roles. The authors tested the hypothesis about the destabilizing effect of changes in social status (disability or old age retirement) on adherence and compliance to treatment in patients with chronic back pain during medical rehabilitation. The psychodiagnostic questionnaire of Psychological Factors of Attitude to Disease and Treatment covered 166 rehabilitation patients. The correlates of high adherence proved to involve a sense of self-efficacy and acceptance of responsibility for both disability and recovery. These indicators differed significantly between the working patients (n = 94) and the retirees (n = 72). The research yielded some psychocorrective measures aimed at restoring active social life. These practical recommendations could be used to shape treatment adherence in senior age patients with chronic back pain.