The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) was developed to identify patients at risk of developing work disability due to pain. This cross sectional study conducted at Oulu university, Finland demonstrated that the high number of pain sites and smoking among both genders, and obesity and low education level among females is associated with higher ÖMPSQ scores.

Investigate the connections within ÖMPSQ-short score and various well-known determinants for chronic pain.

The participants (46 years old) that relating to the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966  fulfilled a questionnaire. The questionnaire involved the ÖMPSQ-short along with questions regarding education, location, smoking, physical activity, and the number of pain sites. Also, height and body weight were estimated to determine the body mass index.

Four to five pain sites, current smoking, and ≥6 pain sites were linked with being divided into the ÖMPSQ high-risk group. In females, also less than nine years of education, and obesity were related to higher ÖMPSQ score. The incidence of physical activity was not correlated with the ÖMPSQ score.

The smoking and a large number of pain sites amongst both genders, and low education level and obesity amidst females is related to greater ÖMPSQ scores. Consequently, the ÖMPSQ-short may be a practical device for also screening the general population.