title: Measurement properties of disease-specific questionnaires in patients with neck pain: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To critically appraise and compare the measurement properties of the original versions of neck-specific questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bibliographic databases were searched for articles concerning the development or evaluation of the measurement properties of an original version of a self-reported questionnaire, evaluating pain and/or disability, which was specifically developed or adapted for patients with neck pain. The methodological quality of the selected studies and the results of the measurement properties were critically appraised and rated using a checklist, specifically designed for evaluating studies on measurement properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search strategy resulted in a total of 3,641 unique hits, of which 25 articles, evaluating 8 different questionnaires, were included in our study. The Neck Disability Index is the most frequently evaluated questionnaire and shows positive results for internal consistency, content validity, structural validity, hypothesis testing, and responsiveness, but a negative result for reliability. The other questionnaires show positive results, but the evidence for each measurement property is mostly limited, and at least 50% of the information on measurement properties per questionnaire is lacking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings imply that studies of high methodological quality are needed to properly assess the measurement properties of the currently available questionnaires. Until high quality studies are available, we recommend using these questionnaires with caution. There is no need for the development of new neck-specific questionnaires until the current questionnaires have been adequately assessed.
authors: Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.schellingerhout@erasmusmc.nl
authors: Jasper M
authors: JM
authors: Schellingerhout
authors: Arianne P
authors: AP
authors: Verhagen
authors: Martijn W
authors: MW
authors: Heymans
authors: Bart W
authors: BW
authors: Koes
authors: Henrica C
authors: HC
authors: de Vet
authors: Caroline B
authors: CB
authors: Terwee
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires