A comparison of four disability scales for Turkish patients with neck pain.
OBJECTIVE
The Neck Disability Index, the Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire, the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale are widely used scales for assessing neck pain or disability. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable scale for Turkish patients with neck pain.


METHODS
All scales were translated into Turkish, administered to 102 patients with neck pain, then compared with regard to their construct validity, reliability, responsiveness, acceptability and usefulness.


RESULTS
The scales were similar in their high validity, reliability standards and sensitivity to change, but differed in their acceptability and usefulness. The item about driving in the Neck Disability Index and the Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire was omitted by 69.6% of patients for reasons other than a neck problem.


CONCLUSIONS
All scales were reliable, valid and sensitive instruments, with similar psychometric properties. The scale that most adequately reflects the patient should be chosen.
Kose
Gulsah
G
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Ege University, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey.
Hepguler
Simin
S
Atamaz
Funda
F
Oder
Gonca
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009288:Naproxen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011594:Psychometrics; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D014421:Turkey
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009288:Naproxen