Answerability and Minimal Clinical Significance of the Pain Questionnaires

Primary outcomes

1. Visual Analog Scale

   Time frame: baseline and through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

   Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a pain rating scale used in clinical and research settings to measure the intensity or frequency of various symptoms. In the current study, VAS will be used to record participants' pain intensity. VAS consists of a single 10 cm line; The left end is described as "No pain" and the right end is described as "The most severe pain ever experienced". Patients will be asked to mark the severity of their current pain on a 10 cm line. When calculating, the marked point will be measured in cm. An increase in the score means that the intensity of the pain increases.

2. Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire

   Time frame: baseline and through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

   Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire is a tool used to assess fear-avoidance beliefs in patients with low back pain. In the current study, the fear and avoidance behaviors of the participants will be evaluated with FABQ. In the survey, which consists of sixteen questions and two subscales (physical activity and work), each question is scored on a six-point Likert scale (0: strongly disagree; 5: strongly agree). A high score in the evaluation is considered to indicate an increase in fear-avoidance behavior.

3. Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia

   Time frame: baseline and through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

   The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) will be used to assess participants' fear of movement. TSK is a 17-item scale developed to describe the fear of movement or re-injury. Each question is scored on a four-point Likert scale (1: strongly disagree; 4: strongly agree). The scoring of four items was reversed (items 4, 8, 12, and 16). Higher scores represent an increased fear of movement.

4. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale

   Time frame: baseline and through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

   The Pain Catastrophizing Scale will be used to assess participants' pain-related thoughts and feelings. It is self-administered and consists of 13 items and 3 subscales (helplessness, magnification, and rumination). It is scored using a five-point Likert-type scale (0: never; 4: always). High scores indicate high levels of catastrophizing.

5. The Perceived Global Impact

   Time frame: through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

   The Global Perceived Impact Scale (GAES) is the usual gold standard for assessing minimal clinically significant change associated with pain in a patient's subjective perception of improvement (global perceived impact). In the current study, the amount of improvement in symptoms perceived by the participants will be evaluated at the end of treatment with GAES. Participants were asked "How would you describe your current condition compared to the beginning of treatment?" question will be asked. They will be asked to rate on a seven-point Likert scale (1: no change or things have gotten worse; 7: much better, a significant improvement). A score of 6 or above will be chosen as the threshold for clinically significant improvement.