title: Validation of the reliability of the Thai version of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) was developed to resolve problems associated with the original evaluation of cervical myelopathic patients. The aim of this study was to translate the JOACMEQ into Thai as per international recommendations, and to test its reliability and validity in the Thai context
  
  
  METHODS
  The JOACMEQ was translated into Thai, using international guidelines. Cervical myelopathy patients (n = 70; 31 males) were asked to complete the Thai version JOACMEQ twice (4 weeks apart). Test-retest reliability was analyzed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Internal consistencies were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha, while the construct validity was compared with the Thai version modified SF-36; using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Thai JOACMEQ produced good reliability (i.e., the ICC was >0.9 in 2 parameters and >0.8 in one). Overall the Cronbach's α for the 24 questions showed very high internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.8) and almost all Cronbach's α showed satisfactory internal consistency except for bladder function. The Spearman's rank correlation for all the JOACMEQ parameters had a positive correlation with all Thai SF 36 subscales, especially the quality of life parameter, which showed a strong correlation with all SF-36 subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Thai version of the JOACMEQ had satisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability: it also had good construct validity. It can therefore be used as a reliable tool for assessing quality of life for cervical myelopathy patients in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Witchaporn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witayakom
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. Electronic address: permpa@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Permsak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paholpak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kitti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jirarattanaphochai
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Weerachai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kosuwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Winai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sirichativapee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Taweechok
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wisanuyotin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laupattarakasem
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kamolsak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sukhonthamarn
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Polasak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeeravipoolvarn
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kasai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009985:Orthopedics; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires