Assessment of Pain-Related Fear in Indigenous Australian Populations Using the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-9 (FPQ-9)

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-9) in Indigenous Australian people. FPQ-9, a shorter version of the original Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III, was developed to support the demand for more concise scales with faster administration time in the clinical and research setting. The psychometric properties of FPQ-9 in Indigenous Australian participants (n = 735) were evaluated with network psychometrics, such as dimensionality, model fit, internal consistency and reliability, measurement invariance, and criterion validity. Our findings indicated that the original FPQ-9 three-factor structure had a poor fit and did not adequately capture pain-related fear in Indigenous Australian people. On removal of two cross-loading items, an adapted version Indigenous Australian Fear of Pain Questionnaire-7 (IA-FPQ-7) displayed good fit and construct validity and reliability for assessing fear of pain in a sample of Indigenous Australian people. The IA-FPQ-7 scale could be used to better understand the role and impact of fear of pain in Indigenous Australian people living with chronic pain. This could allow for more tailored and timely interventions for managing pain in Indigenous Australian communities.

A Psychometric Network Analysis of OHIP-14 across Australian and Brazilian Populations

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the structural validity of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) instrument in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations from Australia and Brazil using a network analysis approach.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data collected using OHIP-14 were obtained for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations from Australia and Brazil. Networks were estimated using the Gaussian graphical model. Items of the OHIP-14 instrument are represented as nodes and the partial correlations between items as edges. Dimensionality was assessed using exploratory graph analysis. Structural consistency and item stability were computed using a bootstrap sampling method. Standardized node strength across each dimension was also calculated.

RESULTS

Four dimensions were identified across all samples, although the item arrangement of most dimensions presented variation. Similarities with the theoretical domains of the instrument were found. Items from the conceptually derived OHIP-14 domains formed separated clusters or blended with other items in a single dimension. Most dimensions across all samples showed an acceptable structural consistency. Item stability revealed some discrepancies among items of dimensions of both Indigenous networks.

CONCLUSION

The psychometric network perspective adopted in this study provides validation of the OHIP-14 structure in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. The structural consistency and item stability analyses showed that both Indigenous networks present a higher number of cross-domain items and less defined boundaries between dimensions. These findings indicate that OHIP-14 does not measure attributes in the same extent among different cultures.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

This study demonstrates a new analytical framework from which to conceptualize and interpret the construct oral health-related quality of life using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Network graphs facilitate knowledge translation of findings to professionals with no expertise in psychometric methods. OHIP-14 is a valuable tool to oral health research and clinical practice. Differences in conceptions of health may influence the extent that the instrument measures oral health impacts. Consequently, dimension scores do not always provide appropriate measures and should be avoided in research reports and assessments of treatment outcomes.