Modified Oswestry Disability Index

No. They’re almost completely identical save for the fact that the modified version replaces the sexual activity part of the original with Homemaking/Work. The advantage of the modified version is that it is more likely that patients will answer all sections.

There are two possible reasons: 1) they forgot to, so you can remind them to tick the answer, or 2) they, for whatever reason, do not want to answer the section. If that’s the case, you’ll have to adjust the equation to the total score ÷ the total possible score (now 45 because they didn’t answer one section) x 100.

It should look like this: 16 ÷ 45 x 100 = 35.5%.

For every section they don’t answer, you just have to subtract 5 from the total possible score. So if they don’t answer two, then it’s 16 ÷ 40 x 100.

Yes, because if the pain is that severe, they’re supposed to be bedridden and can’t move. If you happen to be in a face-to-face session and they give you a fully-accomplished index that has a total score of 81%-100%, then it’s obvious that they might be exaggerating a little bit. The person wouldn’t be there at all, unless they are bound on a stretcher and a companion answered the index for them.

In the event that you get a score that falls in that score range and the patient is not bed-bound, have them retake it and remind them to be more realistic about it and not exaggerate how they feel.