The aims of this study were; 1) to develop the final version of the Korean Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and 2) to compare the responsiveness between the RDQ and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in patients having low back pain. The psychometric properties of the final Korean RDQ were evaluated in 221 patients. Among them, 30 patients were reliability tested. Validity was evaluated using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Korean ODI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the RDQ and the ODI was compared in 54 patients with lumbar zygapophyseal (facet) joint pain. There was a moderate relationship between the RDQ and NRS (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) and a strongly positive correlation between the RDQ and the ODI (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). The Korean RDQ with the higher area under the ROC curve showed a better overall responsive performance than did the ODI in patients with lumbar facet joint pain after medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (P < 0.01). The results of the study present the final version of the Korean RDQ is valid for assessing functional status in a Korean population with chronic low back pain.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Disability Evaluation ; Disabled Persons ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Pain Measurement ; Psychometrics ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Research Design ; Severity of Illness Index

A symposium on pattern identification (PI) was held at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) on October 2, 2013, in Daejeon, South Korea. This symposium was convened to provide information on the current research in PI as well as suggest future research directions. The participants discussed the nature of PI, possible research questions, strategies and future international collaborations in pattern research. With eight presentations and an extensive panel discussion, the symposium allowed participants to discuss research methods in traditional medicine for PI. One speaker presented the topic, 'Clinical pattern differentiation and contemporary research in PI.' Two speakers presented current trends in research on blood stasis while the remaining five other delegates discussed the research methods and future directions of PI research. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the nature of PI, potential research questions, strategies and future international collaborations in pattern research.
Humans ; Internationality ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research ; trends ; Syndrome