Cross-cultural adaptation of the delphi definitions of low back pain prevalence (German DOLBaPP)

Cross-cultural adaptation of Delphi definitions of low back pain prevalence in French (Delphi DOLBaPP-F)

Aim: The high heterogeneity in the definitions of low back pain encountered in the literature has led to the development of standardized definitions of this condition called “Delphi definitions of low back pain prevalence (Delphi DOLBaPP)” by a group of international researchers. In order to be widely used, these definitions need to be adapted according to the cultural and linguistic context. The aim of this work was to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Delphi DOLBaPP definitions in Quebecc French and to pre-test them among French-speaking adults. Methods: In order to enable practical use of the Delphi DOLBaPP definitions in different contexts, their presentation was adapted in the form of a questionnaire (referred to as the “Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire”). The process of cross-cultural adaptation of the Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire in French was conducted according to the most recognized recommendations for the cultural adaptation of measuring instruments. The resulting questionnaire and an evaluation form were then submitted to a sample of 82 adults. Results: A total of 41 participants (50.0%) reported low back pain. A high proportion of participants (89.0%) stated that it took them less than 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire. More than 62.0% of them did not find any question poorly worded or confusing. Nearly 80.0% of the participants found the questionnaire easy to understand. The cross-cultural adaptation process suggested minor modifications to the original Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire. Conclusions: This study has produced a cross-cultural adaptation of the Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire in Quebec French that will enable French-speaking populations to share the benefits of using standardized definitions of low back pain in epidemiological studies.

ADAPTAÇÃO TRANSCULTURAL E CONFIABILIDADE DO ACTIVE AUSTRALIA QUESTIONNAIRE PARA IDOSOS

RESUMO Introdução: A atividade física é um importante parâmetro a ser quantificado em idosos. São necessários instrumentos de medida confiáveis para avaliar e elaborar metas de intervenções terapêuticas efetivas e verificar a evolução do paciente. Objetivo: Adaptar transculturalmente e determinar a confiabilidade teste-reteste e interexaminadores do Active Australia Questionnaire em idosos da comunidade. Métodos: A adaptação transcultural foi realizada de acordo com os critérios propostos por Guillemin e Beaton, a saber, tradução, retrotradução, síntese das traduções, apresentação ao comitê de especialistas e aplicação da versão pré-final para testar o questionário. Para a confiabilidade teste-reteste foi dado um intervalo de quatro horas para as coletas e um intervalo de seis horas para a análise interexaminador, após o reteste. Foram consideradas as informações de atividade física nos últimos sete dias. A caracterização da amostra foi feita pela análise descritiva. Para a análise da confiabilidade utilizou-se o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI). Participaram do estudo 22 idosos (72,5 ± 5,3 anos) e com 7,6 ± 3,9 anos de escolaridade. Resultados: A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi CCI = 0,97 e interexaminadores CCI = 0,82. Conclusão: O instrumento mostrou-se semântica e linguisticamente adequado e confiável, para avaliar o nível de atividade física em idosos na comunidade.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the delphi definitions of low back pain prevalence (German DOLBaPP)

BACKGROUND

Assessed dimensions of low back pain (LBP) vary in prevalence studies. This may explain the heterogeneity in frequency estimates. To standardize definitions of LBP, an English consensus with 28 experts from 12 countries developed the "Delphi Definitions of Low Back Pain Prevalence" (DOLBaPP). The optimal definition and the shorter minimal definition with the related questionnaires for online, paper, and face-to-face use and telephone surveys are suitable for population-based studies. The definitions have to be adapted to different languages and cultures to provide comparable frequency estimates. The objective was to culturally adapt and pre-test the English definitions and corresponding Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire forms into German.

METHODS

The German DOLBaPP adaptation was conducted using the systematic approach suggested by Beaton et al. A pre-test of the Delphi DOLBaPP optimal paper questionnaire including an additional evaluation form was conducted in a sample of 121 employees (mainly office workers). In order to evaluate the comprehensibility, usability, applicability, and completeness of the adapted questionnaire, response to the questionnaire and 6 closed evaluation questions were analyzed descriptively. Qualitative methods were used for the 3 open questions of the evaluation form.

RESULTS

The cultural adaptation of the DOLBaPP for a German-speaking audience required little linguistic adaptation. Conceptual equivalence was difficult for the expression "low back pain". The expert committee considered the face validity of the pre-final version of the related Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaires as good. In the pre-test, most participants (95%) needed less than 5 minutes to fill in the optimal Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaire. They were generally positive regarding length, wording, diagram, and composition. All subjects with LBP (n=61 out of 121 - 50.4%) answered the questions on functional limitation, sciatic pain, frequency and duration of symptoms as well as pain severity.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the cross-cultural German adaptation of the DOLBaPP Definitions and the corresponding questionnaires was successful. The definitions can be used in epidemiological studies to measure the prevalence of LBP. Some critical issues were raised regarding the general features of the Delphi DOLBaPP questionnaires. Future research is needed to evaluate these instruments.