The creation of an abbreviated version of the PSEQ: the PSEQ-2.

BACKGROUND

Self-efficacy is an effective coping strategy associated with less pain and disability. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is a valid and reliable tool to measure this strategy, but could be inconvenient to implement in a busy surgical practice owing to its length.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to develop a shorter version of the 10-item PSEQ.

METHODS

A total of 316 patients (53% men, mean age of 46 y) with a variety of upper extremity diagnosis were enrolled in this study. In addition to demographic information, patients completed the PSEQ measure of self-efficacy, the QuickDASH measure of disability, and an ordinal measure of pain intensity. We conducted inter-item correlation analyses for the PSEQ and selected questions based on the magnitude of their correlation.

RESULTS

Questions 8 and 9 were selected to form the PSEQ-2. The PSEQ-2 showed good internal consistency (α = 0.90) and had a large correlation with the original PSEQ (r = 0.76). Both the PSEQ-2 and the original PSEQ correlated significantly with QuickDASH and pain intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides preliminary evidence that a shortened version of the PSEQ might be useful as a screening instrument to identify patients with hand and upper extremity conditions who have low self-efficacy and might benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic level III.