Validation of the korean version of the neck pain and disability scale.
METHODS
A prospective study.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability and validity of the adapted Korean version of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS).


BACKGROUND
The validity of Korean version of NPDS has not been completely demonstrated yet.


METHODS
Translation/retranslation of the English version of NPDS was conducted, and all steps of the cross-cultural adaptation process were performed. The Korean version of the visual analog scale (VAS) measure of pain, NPDS and the previously validated Short Form-36 (SF-36) were mailed to 91 patients, who had been surgically treated for degenerative cervical disease. Eighty-one patients responded to the first mailing of questionnaires and 69 of the first time responder returned their second survey. Factor analysis and reliability assessment by kappa statistics of agreement for each item, the intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's α were conducted. Concurrent and construct validity were also evaluated by comparing the responses of NPDS with the results of VAS and responses of SF-36.


RESULTS
Factor analysis extracted 3 factors. All items had a kappa statistics of agreement greater than 0.6. The NPDS showed excellent test/re-test reliability. Internal consistency of Cronbach's α was found to be very good. The NPDS was correlated with the VAS. The Korean version of NPDS showed good significant correlation with SF-36 total score and with single SF-36 domains scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The adapted Korean version of the NPDS was successfully translated and is considered suitable for outcome assessments in the Korean-speaking patients with neck pain.
Medical Research Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Jung Sub
JS
Lee
Kuen Tak
KT
Suh
Jeung Il
JI
Kim
Hong Seok
HS
Lee
Tae Sik
TS
Goh
Korean version; Neck Pain and Disability Scale; Neck pain