Laypersons' expectations of recovery and beliefs about whiplash injury: a cross-cultural comparison between Australians and Singaporeans

Tze Siong Ng, Geoff P Bostick, Ashley Pedler, Rachelle Buchbinder, Bill Vicenzino, Michele Sterling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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 Australia and apparently low in Singapore. This study s objectives were to compare laypersons beliefs and expectations of recovery of whiplash injury in Brisbane and Singapore 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 Brisbane (Australia) and Singapore. 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 Singapore and 411 participants from Brisbane, Australia, completed the survey. While participants from Singapore demonstrated slightly more negative whiplash beliefs than participants from Brisbane [t(811) ?=?-5.72; p?
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1234 - 1242
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Journal of Pain
Volume17
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Cite this