Cultural Adaptation, Reliability and Validation of the Arabic Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire in Patients with Low Back Pain

Abstract

Background

The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (ÖMPQ) assesses the psychosocial factors in people with complaints of musculoskeletal disorders and predicts those likely to develop persistent symptoms.

Objective

To culturally-adapt and assess the validity of the ÖMPQ in an Arabic population with low back pain (LBP).

Methods

This was a prospective cohort validation study of the ÖMPQ. The Arabic-ÖMPQ was created by forward translation, translation synthesis and backward translation in an Arabic population. Participants were included if they were 18 years or older, had acute or chronic LBP and were fluent in Arabic. Eighty-four patients completed the questionnaires at baseline, 2 days later and 3 months follow-up. We assessed specific agreement and test–retest reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We assessed predictive validity using linear regression and relative risk. We assessed content validity by investigating the ceiling and floor effects.

Results

To construct validity, the Arabic-ÖMPQ had a moderate (r≥0.3, <0.5) to high (r≥0.5) correlation with pain, disability, fear-avoidance and catastrophizing questionnaires. The test-rest reliability was high ICC_2,1=0.92 (95% CI: 0.83–0.96). The Arabic-ÖMPQ score at baseline can significantly predict disability at 3 months F(1,82)=33.87, p<0.01; R²=0.29.

Conclusion

The translation of the Arabic-ÖMPQ into Arabic was successful. The Arabic-ÖMPQ showed very good reliability and proper validity and thus can be used to predict the risk of developing persistent disability amongst patients with LBP in an Arabic population.

Keywords:

• low back pain
• Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire
• Arabic
• cultural adaptation
• validation

Abbreviations

FABQ-PA, Fear-Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire-Physical Activity; FABQ-W, Fear-Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire-Work; ICC, Interclass Correlation Coefficient; LBP, low back pain; NPRS, Numeric Pain Rating Scale; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; ÖMPQ, Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire; PCS, Pain Catastrophizing Scale; RR, Risk Ratio.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethical Approval and Consent of Participants

This study was approved by the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance at both the Qurayyat General Hospital in Saudi Arabia and the West Virginian University School of Medicine # 1710818925. Our study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Samuel Lee Harris, Sarah Tarabichi, Jawaher Alshalan, Alanood Alshammary, and Smar Alothman for their contribution in the translation and data collection.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.