Translation into Arabic and validation of the pain self-efficacy questionnaire for chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

To translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-Ar). Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) (<i>n</i> = 119) and healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 41) were included in this cross-sectional study. The English PSEQ was adapted to Arabic <i>via</i> forward and backward translations. Content validity was examined using the content validity index (CVI), based on ratings from 10 experts. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha (α) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_2,1), respectively. The structural construct validity was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The minimum detectable change with 95% confidence (MDC₉₅) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were also calculated. The participants reported no major language issues in completing the PSEQ-Ar. The content validity was acceptable (CVI for all items = 0.64). The internal consistency (α = 0.931) and test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1=0.968) were excellent. The CFA demonstrated that the PSEQ-Ar is a unidimensional questionnaire. The MDC₉₅ and SEM for the total score of the PSEQ-Ar were 5.93 (9.89%) and 2.52, respectively. The PSEQ-Ar is a valid and highly reliable tool for assessing confidence in Arabic-speaking patients with CLBP.