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Gareth T Jones

Publications and source records attributed to Gareth T Jones.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Predicting the onset of knee pain: results from a 2-year prospective study of new workers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative contribution of work-related mechanical (injury) factors and psychosocial factors to the onset of a new episode of knee pain, in a cohort of newly employed workers. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of newly employed workers from 12 diverse occupational settings in England (The New Workers Study). 859 newly employed workers, free of knee pain, were identified. Information about occupational mechanical factors (manual handling and postural activities), the occupational physical environment, and psychological and psychosocial factors was collected by self-completion questionnaires. Participants were followed up after 12 and 24 months to identify cases of knee pain onset. Generalised estimating equations were used to estimate the risk of new-onset knee pain, with respect to the exposures previously measured. RESULTS: In total, over the 2-year follow-up period, 108 cases of new-onset knee pain were observed. Mechanical load, postural factors, psychological distress and work-place psychosocial factors all influenced the risk of new-onset knee pain over the 2-year follow-up period. On multivariate analysis, two factors remained independently predictive of knee pain onset: lifting or carrying heavy weights in one hand, and the level of general psychological distress. CONCLUSION: In addition to mechanical (injury) factors, psychological factors are important risk factors for knee pain onset as shown in a population of young newly employed workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Predicting new onset of widespread pain following a motor vehicle collision.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, in a group of persons involved in a motor vehicle collision, the contributions of pre-collision health and psychological factors, the social environment, collision-specific factors, and post-collision symptoms, to the new onset of widespread pain (WP). METHODS: A prospective cohort study of persons, registered with an insurance company, who had recently experienced a motor vehicle collision. Participants were sent a questionnaire to assess pre-collision health, collision-specific factors, post-collision health, and WP. Those reporting WP prior to the collision were excluded from followup. At 12 months, participants were sent a followup questionnaire to ascertain one-month period prevalence of (new onset) WP. RESULTS: In total 957 individuals took part in the baseline survey and were eligible for followup. Subsequently, 695 (73%) completed a questionnaire at 12 months, of whom 54 (7.8%) reported new WP. Few collision-specific factors predicted the onset of WP. In contrast, post-collision physical symptoms (rate ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2-5.1), pre-collision health-seeking behavior (RR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-7.9), pre-collision somatization (RR 1.7, 95% CI 0.99-2.8), and perceived initial injury severity (RR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9-3.3), in addition to older age (RR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.1), were all independently predictive of new onset WP. In combination, these factors accounted for about a 20-fold difference in the risk of new onset WP. CONCLUSION: We identified 5 factors that independently predict the onset of WP following a motor vehicle collision. Early identification of this "at-risk" group may allow the targeting of preventive management in those at highest risk of developing future symptoms.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2006

Predicting persistent disabling low back pain in general practice: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients may adopt active and/or passive coping strategies in response to pain. However, it is not known whether these strategies may also precede the onset of chronic symptoms and, if so, whether they are independent predictors of prognosis. AIM: To examine, in patients with low back pain in general practice, the prognostic value of active and passive coping styles, in the context of baseline levels of pain, disability and pain duration. DESIGN OF STUDY: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nine general practices in north west England. METHOD: Patients consulting their GP with a new episode of low back pain were recruited to the study. Information on coping styles, pain severity, disability, duration, and a brief history of other chronic pain symptoms was recorded using a self-completion postal questionnaire. Participants were then sent a follow-up questionnaire, 3 months after their initial consultation, to assess the occurrence of low back pain. The primary outcome was persistent disabling low back pain, that is, low back pain at 3-month follow-up self-rated as >or=20 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale, and >or=5 on the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 974 patients took part in the baseline survey, of whom 922 (95%) completed a follow-up questionnaire; 363 individuals (39%) reported persistent disabling pain at follow-up. Persons who reported high levels of passive coping experienced a threefold increase in the risk of persistent disabling low back pain (relative risk [RR] = 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.3 to 4.0). In contrast, active coping was associated with neither an increase nor a decrease in the risk of a poor prognosis. After adjusting for baseline pain severity, disability, and other measures of pain and pain history, persons who reported a high passive coping score were still at 50% increased risk of a poor outcome (RR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1 to 2.0). CONCLUSION: Patients who report passive coping strategies experience a significant increase in the risk of persistent symptoms. Further, this risk persists after controlling for initial pain severity and disability. The identification of this low back pain subgroup may help target future treatments to those at greatest risk of a poor outcome.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Onset of neck pain after a motor vehicle accident: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative contribution of constitutional (individual) factors, pre-accident health, psychological and workplace psychosocial factors, and accident related (mechanical) factors in the development of neck pain (whiplash) following a motor vehicle accident. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of drivers (ages 17-70 yrs) who reported a motor vehicle accident to their insurance company. A self-report mailed questionnaire retrospectively collected information on the driver's pre- and post-accident health, details of the accident, and other exposure data. Case/control status (post-accident neck pain) was ascertained using a preshaded manikin. RESULTS: In total, 26% of drivers reported post-accident neck pain. Women, younger individuals, and those with a history of neck pain were more likely to report neck pain following their accident (OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.98, 2.28; OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.96, 2.74; OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.09, 2.81, respectively). In addition, a number of accident related and psychosocial factors were independently associated with reporting post-accident neck pain: collision from behind (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.41, 4.62); vehicle stationary at impact (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.12, 3.33); collision severity (upper vs lowest tertile: OR 16.1, 95% CI 8.64, 30.1); not being at fault (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.49, 4.59); and monotonous work (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.19, 4.04). Based on these 8 factors, the likelihood of having neck pain increased from 7% with < or = 2 risk factors to 62% with > or = 5. CONCLUSION: Development of neck pain after a motor vehicle accident is a complex phenomenon resulting from the combined effects of constitutional, mechanical, and psychosocial factors. Using 8 such variables it is possible to identify those at high risk of developing neck pain.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Predicting the onset of widespread body pain among children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with, and the predictors of, widespread body pain in children. METHODS: A population-based prospective study was conducted among school children in Northwest England. At baseline, subjects completed a self-report questionnaire on widespread body pain. Information was collected on behavioral and emotional factors, other somatic symptoms, and measures of physical activity/inactivity. Children who were free of widespread pain were contacted again 12 months later to determine any new onset of widespread pain. Regression analyses were used to identify the factors that were associated with the reporting of widespread pain at baseline, and to determine the factors that predicted the new onset of symptoms at followup among those children free of widespread pain at baseline. Results were expressed as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: A total of 1,440 children (96%) agreed to participate in the survey at baseline, and of those eligible, 1,081 (88%) participated at followup. The reporting of widespread pain (prevalence 14.6%) and its new onset at the 12-month followup (prevalence 7.7%) was common. At baseline, symptoms were associated with adverse behavioral and emotional factors (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.6), with the report of other common childhood somatic symptoms (e.g., frequent headache; RR 3.5, 95% CI 2.2-5.5), and with high levels of sports activity (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9). Furthermore, all of these factors (in the absence of widespread pain at baseline) increased the likelihood of symptom onset at followup. CONCLUSION: Children who report behavioral problems or other somatic symptoms are at increased risk, at least in the short term, of developing chronic widespread pain. It remains to be determined whether these are long-term risk factors for the onset of such symptoms, and whether they could be predictors of the development of other functional syndromes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in children ages 12-15 years: prevalence and association with other common symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Although Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in adults is frequently reported as having been present since childhood, there have been no studies on the prevalence of RP in children. This study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of RP in children ages 12-15 years and to determine whether, as with other commonly reported symptoms, there were any associations with adverse psychosocial factors. METHODS: A previously validated self-administered RP questionnaire was distributed to 903 children ages 12-15 years, from 28 schools. The questionnaire also included questions on other common childhood symptoms and on adverse psychosocial factors. RESULTS: Seven hundred twenty children responded (80%), in whom the prevalence of RP was 15%. This was higher in girls (18% versus 12%) and increased with age. After adjustment for age and sex, there was an association with reporting of current pain, both in the arm/shoulder region and elsewhere in the body. There were no associations with psychosocial variables. CONCLUSION: RP is frequent in children ages 12-15 years. Unlike other common childhood symptoms, RP showed no association with psychosocial factors in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Predictors of low back pain in British schoolchildren: a population-based prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the onset of low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren and to investigate the role of mechanical and psychosocial factors as risk factors for its onset. METHODS: A prospective population-based cohort study was conducted of 1046 schoolchildren, aged 11 to 14 years at baseline, identified as being free of LBP, from 39 secondary schools in Northwest England. New onset of LBP at 1-year follow-up was measured. RESULTS: Children who reported high levels of psychosocial difficulties were more likely to develop LBP than their peers (relative risk: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.3). An excess risk was, in particular, associated with conduct problems (2.5; 1.7-3.7). Similarly, children who reported high numbers of somatic symptoms at baseline were at greater risk of developing LBP: abdominal pain (1.8; 1.1-3.0), headaches (1.6; 0.97-2.8), and sore throats (1.5; 0.8-2.6). In contrast, we have been unable to demonstrate a strong association between daily mechanical load (schoolbag weight) and the short-term risk of new-onset LBP (highest versus lowest quintile: 1.2; 0.7-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: In children who were initially free of LBP, adverse psychosocial factors and the presence of other preexisting somatic pain symptoms were predictive of future LBP, reflecting findings in adults. In contrast, there was little evidence of an increase in short-term risk associated with mechanical load across the range of weights commonly carried by children to school.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2002

Low back pain in schoolchildren: occurrence and characteristics.

Low back pain in adolescents is perceived to be uncommon in the clinic setting. However, previous studies have suggested that it may be an important and increasing problem in this age-group. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and important symptom characteristics of low back pain such as duration, periodicity, intensity, disability and health seeking behaviour at young ages. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted including 1446 children aged 11-14 years in the North-West of England. A self-complete questionnaire was used to assess low back pain prevalence, symptom characteristics, associated disability and health seeking behaviour. An additional self-complete questionnaire amongst parents sought to validate pain reporting. The 1-month period prevalence of low back pain was 24%. It was higher in girls than boys (29 vs. 19%; 2=14.7, P<0.001) and increased with age in both sexes (P<0.001). Of those reporting low back pain, 94% experienced some disability, with the most common reports being of difficulty carrying school bags. Despite this high rate of disability, few sought medical attention. Adolescent low back pain is common although medical attention is rarely sought. Such symptoms in childhood, particularly as they are so common, may have important consequences for chronic low back pain in adulthood.

Adolescent↗