Associations between the injustice experience questionnaire and treatment term in patients with acute Whiplash-associated disorder in Japan: Comparison with Canadian data

Abstract

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the differences in the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) scores during the early period after the diagnosis of Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) between Japanese and Canadian samples, and the associations between the IEQ scores and treatment terms in Japanese patients with acute WAD. Methods We used secondary data for the IEQ scores of Canadian patients with acute WAD. In Japan, we collected data from 85 consecutively enrolled patients with acute WAD, and their treatment terms were collected; these referred to the number of days between the date of injury and the closure date of the insurance claim and the number of treatment visits. Before treatment, the Numeric Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, IEQ, and Euro Quality of Life five-dimensional questionnaire were administered. The variables were subjected to multivariate analysis with each treatment term. Results The IEQ scores were higher in Japan than in Canada. Through multiple regression analysis, IEQ scores were independently correlated with treatment terms. The optimal cutoff point of the IEQ scores for a prolonged treatment term was 21 and 22 points, respectively. Conclusions The IEQ scores were associated with treatment terms in patients with acute WAD in Japan.

Predictors of high-cost patients with acute whiplash-associated disorder in Japan

“…There was no obvious association of outcomes with the traffic accident-related variables in acute WAD patients in the economic outcomes (current study) or clinical outcomes [9]. Predictive indicators relevant to poor clinical outcome of acute WAD are pain levels, disability, and physical and psychological factors in guidelines [35], similar to previous studies in Japan [9,36,37]. Overtreatment in the initial phase after acute WAD associated with slow recovery [7,8,10,24].…”

Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain after Dental Implant Surgery and the Injustice Experience Questionnaire

“…Ferrari reported that whiplash victims, six months post-injury, had higher IEQ scores than those three months post-injury [ 16 ]. In patients with sub-acute or chronic whiplash-associated disorders, the IEQ scores are associated with pain severity, displays of pain behavior, depressive symptoms, work disability, and post-traumatic stress symptoms [ 17 ]. Hayashi et al reported that the appropriate cutoff score for the IEQ would be a score of 21 or higher when related to the long-term disability of patients with a whiplash-associated disorder [ 17 ].…”