Validation of Russian-language version of Visual Analog Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA)

Abstract

Background. Visual Analog Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA) is a valid tool for the assessment of functional status in foot and ancle-related patients. Aim — validation of Russian-language version of Visual Analog Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA). Materials and methods. Reliability, validity and sensitivity of Russian-language version of the VAS FA were assessed in 60 foot and ancle-related patients. The reliability was checked by assessing the internal consistency (calculating Cronbach′s alpha). The reproducibility was checked by a test-retest analysis. The criterion validity was evaluated by correlation analysis with SF-36, FFI and AOFAS scores. The sensitivity was studied by comparing VAS FA score dynamics after conservative treatment with minimal important change VAS FA. Results. Evaluating the internal consistency yielded a very high Cronbach′s alpha (0,92). The test-retest analysis demonstrated a signifi cant correlation (0,95) between the results of primary and secondary testing. Assessing the criterion validity showed a high relationship to the scores of SF-36 (0,77), FFI (0,86) and AOFAS (0,81). In patients who noted an improvement after conservative treatment the positive change of the VAS FA score exceeded 2–2,3 times the minimal important change VAS FA. Conclusion. Russian-language version of VAS FA is a reliable, valid and sensitive tool to evaluate the functional status in foot and ancle-related patients and it can be used in Russian-speaking patients.