Measuring psychosocial variables in patients with (sub) acute low back pain complaints, at risk for chronicity: a validation study of the Acute Low Back Pain Screening Questionnaire-Dutch Language Version.

STUDY DESIGN

A validation study of the Acute Low Back Pain Screening Questionnaire Dutch Language Version (ALBPSQ-DLV).

OBJECTIVE

To determine internal consistency, construct and convergent validity of the ALBPSQ-DLV in a population of patients with (sub) acute low back pain (LBP) referred to primary care physical therapy in The Netherlands.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Viewing LBP as a multifactorial biopsychosocial syndrome enhances the need for validating instruments for screening psychosocial variables in patients with LBP. The ALBPSQ has been specifically constructed as a self-administered screening instrument, based on variables that have been suggested as a risk factor in the literature.

METHODS

A total of 69 patients with (sub) acute LBP were recruited. Internal consistency of the ALBPSQ-DLV was determined by calculating Cronbach alpha. Construct validity was determined by applying exploratory factor analysis. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficients between domains of ALBPSQ-DLV and Dutch language versions of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Pain Coping Inventory, Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, and the Visual Analogue Scale of pain intensity.

RESULTS

Internal consistency of the ALBPSQ-DLV was 0.81. Values of the various subscales ranged between 0.48 and 0.88. Convergent validity was confirmed by moderate to good correlation coefficients (P = 0.01) between the scores on the subscales and the constructs of pain, disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and coping (r = 0.38-0.64). Exploratory factor analysis, suppressing absolute values less than 0.40, revealed components which were in agreement with the various domains of the original ALBPSQ.

CONCLUSION

The internal consistency and both construct and convergent validity of the ALBPSQ-DLV are well established in a Dutch population of 69 patients with (sub) acute nonspecific LBP referred to primary care physical therapy.