Translation of pain self-efficacy questionnaire into Gujarati language and analysis of psychometric properties in subjects with musculoskeletal pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability worldwide. Musculoskeletal conditions are typically characterized by pain which is often persistent and limits one's mobility, dexterity, and functional ability, reducing people's ability to work and participate in social roles with associated impacts on mental well-being. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is a 10-item questionnaire, developed to assess the confidence of people with ongoing pain; in performing activities with pain. The PSEQ scale is applicable to all persisting pain presentations. The study aims to translate PSEQ into Gujarati and analyze its psychometric properties in subjects with musculoskeletal pain.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prior permission from the author was taken for the translation of PSEQ scale into Gujarati language. The translation procedure was carried out according to the guidelines provided by the WHO with forward and backward translation. Thereafter to analyze the psychometric properties of the scale, a total of 30 subjects (mean age of 45.43 ± 17.02) with different MSDs were enrolled in the study. The concurrent validity was obtained by establishing a correlation between the Gujarati translated version of PSEQ (PSEQ-G) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The intra-rater reliability was established by test-retest method within a span of 2 days. The questionnaire was again administered after 1 week by two different investigators to test the inter-rater reliability.RESULTS: The concurrent validity was established with a moderate strength negative correlation between PSEQ-G and VAS (r = -0.398, P < 0.05). The intra-rater reliability was found between 0.887 and 0.980 (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.955) and inter-rater reliability was between 0.848 and 0.958 (ICC = 0. 917). There was a high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha 0.938. Bland-Altman plot analysis was performed for PSEQ-G scores between the two raters which showed agreement between the two scores within the limits of agreement with a 95% confidence interval. The linear regression showed no proportional bias.CONCLUSION: The results showed fair concurrent validity with a weak correlation between VAS and PSEQ-G scores (Gujarati version of PSEQ) and excellent inter-and intra-rater reliability for PSEQ-G in subjects with MSDs.