Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire: methodological aspects of the Norwegian version.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) for use in Norwegian patients with low back pain.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study with 2 groups.


METHODS
The questionnaire was tested in 123 patients with acute low back pain and 50 patients with chronic low back pain.


METHODS
A translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 28 patients with chronic low back pain. Responsiveness was assessed in acute low back pain.


RESULTS
Two factors for the FABQ were confirmed; fear-avoidance beliefs about work (FABQ-Work) and physical activity (FABQ-PA), accounting for 60% and 54% of the total variance in acute and chronic low back pain, respectively. For FABQ-Work and FABQ-PA internal consistency was 0.90 and 0.79, intra-class correlation coefficients 0.82 and 0.66, minimal detectable changes 12 and 9 points, and coefficients of variation were 16% and 23%. The FABQ correlated weakly to moderately with pain, disability, distress, and clinical variables. Standardized response means were low for FABQ-Work (0.32) and moderate (0.56) for FABQ-PA. Both FABQ subscales showed initially floor and/or ceiling effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The Norwegian FABQ version had acceptable factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity. The responsiveness of the FABQ-Work was low, and for the FABQ-PA moderate, in the acute sample.
Grotle
Margreth
M
Department of Orthopaedics, Section for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Brox
Jens I
JI
Vøllestad
Nina K
NK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating