Low back pain: reliability of a set of pain measurement tools.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reliability and internal consistency of a set of low back pain (LBP)-related measurement tools and to determine whether they are appropriate for use in a large-scale, community-based sample in Israel.


METHODS
Test-retest reliability study, with an interval of 2 to 14 days between test and retest.


METHODS
Physiotherapy clinics.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-one patients with LBP.


METHODS
The Modified Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (MRMQ); a simple verbal pain severity scale; and modified pain symptoms frequency and bothersomeness indices. Three measures of variables with potential association with LBP were also used: a Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), work satisfaction scale, and the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ).


RESULTS
Test-retest reliability was high for the MRMQ, pain symptom indices, work index of the FABQ, and occupational activity index of the BPAQ; the internal consistency of the MRMQ and FABQ work index were also high (intraclass correlation coefficient >or= .89; alpha = .89).


CONCLUSIONS
Most measurement tools are reliable and suitable for community LBP studies in Israel.
Jacob
T
T
Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netania, Israel.
Baras
M
M
Zeev
A
A
Epstein
L
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating