title: Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the STarT Back Tool in Patients with Low Back Pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The STarT Back Tool uses prognostic indicators to classify patients with low back pain into three risk groups to guide early secondary prevention in primary care. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the tool (STarT-J).
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was conducted among Japanese patients with low back pain aged 20-64 years. Reliability was assessed by examining the internal consistency of the overall and psychosocial subscales using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the concurrent validity between the STarT-J total score/psychosocial subscore and standard reference questionnaires. Discriminant validity was evaluated by calculating the area under the curves (AUCs) for the total and psychosocial subscale scores against standard reference cases. Known-groups validity was assessed by examining the relationship between low back pain-related disability and STarT-J scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis included data for 2000 Japanese patients with low back pain; the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 47.7 (9.3) years, and 54.1% were male. The mean (SD) STarT-J score was 2.2 (2.1). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.75 for the overall scale and 0.66 for the psychosocial subscale. Spearman's correlation coefficients ranged from 0.30 to 0.59, demonstrating moderate to strong concurrent validity. The AUCs for the total score ranged from 0.65 to 0.83, mostly demonstrating acceptable discriminative ability. For known-groups validity, participants with more somatic symptoms had higher total scores. Those in higher STarT-J risk groups had experienced more low back pain-related absences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall STarT-J scale was internally consistent and had acceptable concurrent, discriminant, and known-groups validity. The STarT-J can be used with Japanese patients with low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.|Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.affiliation: Clinical Study Support, Inc., Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.|Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001415:Back / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires