General medicine
The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-24) measures the limitations that patients attribute to their back pain in daily life. Patients check the statements that correspond to their condition on the day of completion. Each checked statement is worth one point: the higher the score, the greater the reported functional impact.
Number of questions
24 items
Approximate duration
5 minutes
Population
Adults with lower back pain
Modality
self-administered questionnaire
QuestionnaireRMDQ-24
SELF-QUESTIONNAIRE
Response: tick only the statements that describe the current state; each ticked box = 1 point.
Are you patient?
Yes: the RMDQ is designed to be completed directly by you. Answer based on your current situation, without trying to guess what a "right" answer would be.
Terms of contract
The RMDQ-24 is a self-administered questionnaire completed by the patient in about 5 minutes, requiring no training for the examiner. Patients only tick the statements that describe their condition on that specific day and are related to their back pain; use a validated French translation and repeat the assessment at regular intervals to monitor progress.
Score interpretationRMDQ-24
Each checked statement is worth 1 point; the total score is the sum of the checked statements, from 0 to 24.
Total score
First reading
No universal diagnostic threshold: a higher score reflects more reported limitations; the main value lies in the baseline score and its progression over time.
There is no universal diagnostic breakdown to apply to all patients; the main interest lies in the baseline level and the progression during follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
What does the RMDQ measure?
Should I tick a statement that is true but not related to my back?
What are its limitations?
Sources and references
Roland M, Morris R
Roland M, Morris R, Spine, 1983
In practice
Full name
Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire — 24 items
Method
self-administered questionnaire
Language
French (validated version)
Authors
Roland M, Morris R
One-off collection or questionnaire integrated into a journey: let's discuss your needs with Aldebaran.
Test Aldebaran
