The aim of the research is generalization of information about the most common foreign and domestic scales and questionnaires used in acute and chronic back pain (BP). The analysis of Russian-language and foreign literature was carried out with a search depth of 5 years (2016–2021) in the following databases: e-Library, PubMed, Oxford Press, Clinical Keys, Springer, Elsevier, Google Scholar. To diagnose back pain and assess the characteristics of its course in dynamics, both a standardized study is used: collection of complaints, anamnesis, objective examination, assessment of neurological status, as well as valid PRO. For timely diagnosis and monitoring of the development of BP in patients with osteochondrosis of the spine, a wide range of scales and questionnaires were proposed, which we ranged into 4 groups: scales for assessing the quality of life of patients with BP; scales for assessing the characteristics of pain in BP; scales for assessing disease outcomes in BP; scales for assessing disability in BP. The second part of the thematic review presents an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of scales for assessing pain characteristics, disease outcome and disability in patients with BP. Patient-reported outcomes assessment tools for patients with BP are popular in the world medical practice, however, it is necessary to adapt to the use in domestic clinical practice of such scales as Pain Quality Assessment Scale and Pain Quality Assessment Scale Revised (PQAS and PQAS-R), The Patient Assessment for Low Back Pain - Symptoms (PAL-S), Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ).