EVALUATING A PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAM IN A MULTICULTURAL POPULATION- THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATIONS OF BACK PAIN

Objective. This study was carried out during 4 years of longitudinal r esearch assessing back pain problems and the impact of a back pain pri mary prevention program on the employees of a food and non-food chain store. The impact of the teaching program was reevaluated in a seconda ry analysis, taking into account subjects' prior representations of ba ck pain. Methods. Subjects were grouped according to their cultural or igins and socioprofessional levels. Their representations were assesse d by means of open questions before and after the teaching program. Re sults. The teaching program reinforced pre-existing representations in those participants socioculturally nearest the teachers; it had a wea k or even disturbing impact on those furthest removed from the teacher s in sociocultural terms. Conclusion. The differential impact of the t eaching program in this study indicates that participants' prior repre sentations play a role in the outcome of a Back School teaching progra m. Thus, the participants' representations should be taken into accoun t when designing the program and when assessing participants' suitabil ity for such programs, their adherence, and the outcome.