Cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reproducibility of the Back Beliefs Questionnaire among older Brazilians with acute low back pain. A cross-sectional study.

Luiza Faria Teixeira,Joana Ude Viana,João Marcos Domingues Dias,Juliano Bergamaschine Mata Diz,Leani Souza Máximo Pereira,Silvia Lanziotti Azevedo Da Silva,Rosângela Corrêa Dias

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2019.0542.r2.16042020

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) has emerging as an epidemic, multifactorial and multidimensional condition in older age. Assessment of attitudes and beliefs of patients with back pain is necessary for understanding the impact of psychosocial factors on pain perception and management. To cross-culturally adapt and examine the validity and reproducibility (intra and interrater reliability and agreement) of the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) in older Brazilians with acute LBP. Cross-sectional methodological report conducted at the Department of Physical Therapy of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The present study was conducted for translating, adapting, and examining the psychometric properties of a questionnaire. Participants aged ≥ 60 years experiencing an acute episode of LBP were recruited. Coefficients of internal consistency, reliability and agreement were obtained using Cronbach's α, intraclass correlations, and standard error of measurement and the smallest detectable change, respectively. Twenty-six participants aged between 60-84 years and reporting a mean of 9.8 (4.3) years of schooling completed the study. The Brazilian Portuguese-language version of the BBQ (BBQ-Brazil) was proposed and presented with adequate conceptual, semantic, operational, and measurement equivalence from the original version. Intra and interrater evaluations showed moderate (0.74) and excellent (0.91) intraclass correlation coefficients, respectively, with small standard error of measurement for both evaluations. Internal consistency was considered adequate (0.70). BBQ-Brazil had consistent measurements of validity and reproducibility, and proved to be a valuable tool in clinical practice for addressing attitudes and beliefs of older patients with acute LBP.

Highlights

Low back pain (LBP) has been a challenge for gerontology in relation to promoting healthy aging
A recent systematic review showed that one in four Brazilians aged ≥ 60 years was suffering from LBP at any given moment.[3]
The inclusion criteria were that the participants needed to be community-dwelling people aged ≥ 60 years who presented with a new episode of LBP, i.e. any pain between the lower ribs and inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg symptoms, which had occurred for a period shorter than six weeks

Summary

Introduction

Low back pain (LBP) has been a challenge for gerontology in relation to promoting healthy aging. The transition from acute to persistent LBP among older patients can be explained in terms of psychosocial factors that significantly influence their functional status.[6] Psychosocial factors known as “yellow flags” increase the risk of long-term disability, and early screening for these factors is needed in order to prevent chronic LBP In this regard, patients’ attitudes and beliefs about pain should be highlighted.[7] The domains of these factors result from customs, ideologies, values and religious, and spiritual experiences, and they influencing individual behavior and social life at all levels, from interpersonal to political, economic and legal relationships.[8] Negative beliefs are associated with poor recovery among older adults, after an acute episode of LBP.[6,7]. CONCLUSION: BBQ-Brazil had consistent measurements of validity and reproducibility, and proved to be a valuable tool in clinical practice for addressing attitudes and beliefs of older patients with acute LBP

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion