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Laypersons' expectations of recovery and beliefs about whiplash injury: A cross‐cultural comparison between A ustralians and S ingaporeans
Author(s) -
Ng T.S.,
Bostick G.,
Pedler A.,
Buchbinder R.,
Vicenzino B.,
Sterling M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00265.x
Subject(s) - whiplash , medicine , injury prevention , psychology , clinical psychology , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , physical therapy , medical emergency
Background Beliefs and expectations are thought to influence outcome following whiplash injury. Studies have proposed a link between rates of chronic whiplash and laypersons' expectations about outcome following a motor vehicle accident. The prevalence of chronic whiplash is relatively high in A ustralia and apparently low in S ingapore. This study's objectives were to compare laypersons' beliefs and expectations of recovery of whiplash injury in B risbane and S ingapore and to assess the effect of demographic factors on whiplash beliefs. Methods A cross‐sectional study using online surveys was conducted on adult Internet users in B risbane ( A ustralia) and S ingapore. The 14‐item whiplash beliefs questionnaire ( WBQ ) was used to evaluate whiplash beliefs. Two additional items assessed expectations of recovery. Individual items of WBQ , WBQ score and expectations of recovery were analysed. Stratified analysis was performed to adjust for sampling bias due to quota sampling. Results A total of 402 participants from S ingapore and 411 participants from B risbane, A ustralia, completed the survey. While participants from S ingapore demonstrated slightly more negative whiplash beliefs than participants from Brisbane [ t (811) = −5.72; p < 0.0001], participants from both samples were similar in their expectations of quick recovery and return to normal activities following whiplash injury. Only gender had a significant effect on whiplash beliefs [estimated marginal means of WBQ score for men = 21.5; standard error ( SE) = 0.20; women = 22.5; SE = 0.20; F (1,810) = 11.2; p = 0.001]. Conclusions Laypersons' expectations of recovery and beliefs about whiplash injury in Brisbane and S ingapore were generally similar and mostly positive. Our results demonstrate that cultural differences reflected by laypersons' beliefs may not reflect the differences in prevalence of chronic whiplash between countries.