Translation and validation of the Finnish version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri Terho ◽  
Marianne Haapea ◽  
Markus Paananen ◽  
Katariina Korniloff ◽  
Arja Häkkinen ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimLow back pain (LBP) is a debilitating problem worldwide causing disability and reducing quality of life. The Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) was developed on the basis of the assumption that fear-avoidance beliefs play a major role in LBP-related disability. It comprises 16 items scored by the patient and includes sub-scores for fear-avoidance beliefs regarding work and physical activity. This study aimed to translate and validate the Finnish version of the FABQ and to measure its properties among Finnish patients with LBP.Material and methodsA forward-backward translation procedure was used based on modified recommended guidelines. The FABQ was applied to 66 Finnish patients with LBP. Patients answered the FABQ at baseline and again approximately two weeks later. The test-re-test reliability between the baseline and follow-up FABQwas evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Internal consistency between the items within total and sub-scores was evaluated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. The items of the baseline FABQ were grouped using factor analysis and the correlations between the FABQ pain intensity in visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed using linear regression analysis.ResultsThe Finnish version of the FABQ was successfully adapted. The mean age of patients was 46. Almost all patients (97%) reported LBP, most patients (76%) had chronic pain lasting more than 3 months and the mean intensity of LBP was 58 mm on VAS. The follow-up time between the first and second questionnaire ranged from 2 days to 59 days with the median of 16 days. The ICC value for reliability between the baseline and follow-up questionnaires was excellent for the total score (0.91) and work sub-score (0.89), and good for the physical activity sub-score (0.73). The items regarding work showed high or excellent reliability throughout, with ICC values ranging from 0.63 to 0.89. The ICC values for the items related to physical activity ranged from 0.43 to 0.66, displaying moderate to good reliability. Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency was excellent for the total score (0.92) and work (0.89), and good for physical activity (0.71). The best factor analysis solution yielded three factors characterized by the fear that pain aggravates due to (1) work or (2) physical activity, and (3) fear-avoidance beliefs concerning work. Higher total FABQ score was associated significantly with higher VAS (p-value 0.021) and ODI (<0.001).Conclusion and implicationsThe expert committee successfully created an applicable Finnish versionof the FABQ. The Finnish FABQ is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing LBP patients’ fear avoidancebehaviour and has similar properties to those found in other validation studies of the FABQ. Thus it canbe used for assessing the risk of disability due to fear avoidance behaviour in Finnish-speaking patientswith LBP for both clinical and scientific purposes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taweewat Wiangkham ◽  
Nattawan Phungwattanakul ◽  
Patcharin Tedsombun ◽  
Isara Kongmee ◽  
Wanisara Suwanmongkhon ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesFear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) is a self-report, valid and reliable questionnaire to quantify fear and avoidance beliefs related to physical activity and work. Furthermore, it can be used to predict prolong disability in patients with non-specific neck pain. Although it was originally developed to manage patients with low back pain, it has also been studied in individuals with neck pain. This questionnaire was translated into several languages following reports of potential benefits in patients with neck pain. Recently, Thai neck clinical trials, international multi-centre trials and data sharing are growing throughout the world but no validated Thai version of the FABQ is available for clinical and research uses. Our objectives were to translate and cross-culturally adapt the FABQ into Thai version and evaluate its psychometric properties in Thai patients with non-specific neck pain.MethodsCross-cultural translation and adaptation of the FABQ were conducted according to standard guidelines. A total of 129 participants with non-specific neck pain were invited to complete the Thai versions of the FABQ (FABQ-TH), neck disability index and visual analogue scale for pain intensity. Psychometric evaluation included exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, agreement, and convergent validity. Thirty participants completed the FABQ-TH twice with a 48-h interval between tests to assess the test-retest reliability.ResultsFactor analysis identified four components for the FABQ-TH (66.69% of the total variance). The intraclass correlation coefficient of test-retest reliability was excellent for the total score (0.986), work attitudes (0.995), physical activity attitudes (0.958), physical activity experiences (0.927), and expected recovery (0.984). Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency was excellent (range 0.87–0.88) for all items. The minimal detectable change of the FABQ-TH was 5.85. The FABQ-TH correlated to its subscales (range 0.470–0.936), indicating the strongest association with work attitude. The weakest correlation was observed between the FABQ-TH and disability (rs=0.206, p=0.01). Missing data and significant floor or ceiling effects were not found.ConclusionsThe Thai version of the FABQ for non-specific neck pain was successfully adapted. It is a valid and reliable instrument to quantify fear and avoidance beliefs among patients with non-specific neck pain who speak and read Thai.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260452
Author(s):  
Danilo Harudy Kamonseki ◽  
Melina Nevoeiro Haik ◽  
Larissa Pechincha Ribeiro ◽  
Rafaela Firmino de Almeida ◽  
Lucas Araújo de Almeida ◽  
...  

Purpose To verify the measurement properties of the Brazilian versions of Fear-avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) in individuals with shoulder pain. Methods Individuals with shoulder pain (>18 years) were included in this study. Structural validity was verified by exploratory factor analysis, which was used to identify dimensionality of the FABQ and TSK. Test-retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient(3,1) and internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha. Floor or ceiling effects were also investigated. Responsiveness was verified by effect sizes and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results Exploratory factor analysis identified two and one factor in the FABQ and TSK, respectively. FABQ and TSK presented moderate to good reliability and adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). The floor effect was present in one factor of the FABQ. The FABQ and TSK showed small to moderate effect sizes and did not show adequate AUC. Conclusion FABQ and TSK are multidimensional and unidimensional instruments, respectively. Those instruments presented moderate to good reliability and the responsiveness was considered to be suboptimal in individuals with shoulder pain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aminu A. Ibrahim ◽  
Mukadas O. Akindele ◽  
Bashir Kaka ◽  
Bashir Bello

Abstract Background and aims The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) is the most widely used self-reported measure of fear-avoidance beliefs about work and physical activity in low back pain (LBP). However, there is no Hausa version for use in patients with LBP. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and test the psychometric properties of the Hausa version of the FABQ in patients with LBP. Methods The Hausa form of FABQ was developed using a forward-backward translation procedure according to recommended guidelines. The pre-final version of the questionnaire was pre-tested on 10 patients with acute LBP and 10 patients with chronic LBP. Psychometric testing was performed in 70 patients with acute LBP and 130 patients with chronic LBP. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach α) and test-retest reliability through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis and divergent validity (Spearman rank correlation coefficient). Responsiveness was also investigated on 40 patients with chronic LBP. Results The Hausa version of the FABQ was successfully translated and proved to be well-understood. The internal consistency was adequate for the questionnaire (0.773) and its physical activity (0.816) and work (0.606) subscales. Test-retest reliability was excellent with an ICC value of 0.928 for the questionnaire and values of 0.901 and 0.863 for the physical activity and work subscales, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure in both acute and chronic LBP samples explaining 66.4% and 58.6% of the total variance, respectively. The first factor represents fear-avoidance beliefs due to work, the second factor represents fear-avoidance beliefs due to physical activity whereas the third factor represents the fear that pain aggravates due to work. Divergent validity showed moderate to weak correlation between the questionnaire and pain intensity (r=0.502), disability (r=0.415), lumbopelvic motion (r=0.00). The physical activity and work subscales weakly correlated (r=0.280). The effect size and standardized response mean were moderate to small with the work subscale having the lowest effect size (0.34) and standardized response mean (0.34) values. The MDC of the questionnaire was 5.4 points. The questionnaire had no ceiling or floor effects. Conclusions The FABQ was successfully translated into Hausa and cross-culturally adapted with acceptable psychometric properties similar to those of existing versions. The results suggest that the Hausa FABQ can be used to evaluate fear-avoidance beliefs about LBP in Hausa-speaking population for both clinical and research purposes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 378-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherene E Sharath ◽  
Panos Kougias ◽  
Neal R Barshes

We examined how pain beliefs are related to symptom severity, expectations of risk/benefits, and baseline physical activity among claudicants. Eligible patients at the Michael E DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center were administered questionnaires that measured: fear-avoidance beliefs (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire [FABQ]), walking impairment, baseline physical activity, claudication type, and risk/benefit attitudes. Among 20 participants, the median age was 69 years (IQR: 66–75). In our efforts to understand how fear-avoidance beliefs influenced physical activity among people with claudication, we found that 12 out of 19 participants (63%) thought that the primary etiology of their pain was walking, while 18 (out of 20) (90%) people thought that walking would exacerbate their leg symptoms – suggesting that there was some confusion regarding the effects of walking on claudication. Those who expected that walking would benefit their symptoms more than surgery reported fewer fear-avoidance beliefs ( p=0.01), but those who believed that walking would make their leg pain worse expected greater benefit from surgery ( p=0.02). As symptom severity increased, fear-avoidance beliefs also increased ( p=0.001). The association between symptom severity and fear-avoidance beliefs indicates that as pain or impairment increases, the likelihood of avoiding behaviors that are thought to cause pain might also increase. Accounting for pain-related beliefs when recommending physical activity for claudication should be considered.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 384-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Powden ◽  
Johanna M. Hoch ◽  
Beth E. Jamali ◽  
Matthew C. Hoch

Context Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience disease- and patient-oriented impairments that contribute to both immediate and long-term health detriments. Investigators have demonstrated the ability of targeted interventions to improve these impairments. However, the combined effects of a multimodal intervention on a multidimensional profile of health have not been evaluated. Objective To examine the effects of a 4-week rehabilitation program on disease- and patient-oriented impairments associated with CAI. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 males, 15 females; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of “giving way” in the 3 months before the study, and a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score ≤24. Intervention(s) Individuals participated in 12 sessions over 4 weeks that consisted of ankle stretching and strengthening, balance training, and joint mobilizations. They also completed home ankle-strengthening and -stretching exercises daily. Main Outcome Measure(s) Dorsiflexion range of motion (weight-bearing–lunge test), isometric ankle strength (inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion), isometric hip strength (abduction, adduction, flexion, extension), dynamic postural control (Y-Balance test), static postural control (eyes-open and -closed time to boundary in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions), and patient-reported outcomes (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Activities of Daily Living and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Sport, modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire–Physical Activity and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire–Work) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, 2-week follow-up). Results Dorsiflexion range of motion, each direction of the Y-Balance test, 4-way ankle strength, hip-adduction and -extension strength, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure–Activities of Daily Living score, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale–physical summary component score, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire–Physical Activity score were improved at postintervention (P &lt; .001; effect-size range = 0.72–1.73) and at the 2-week follow-up (P &lt; .001; effect-size range = 0.73–1.72) compared with preintervention. Hip-flexion strength was improved at postintervention compared with preintervention (P = .03; effect size = 0.61). Hip-abduction strength was improved at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention (P = .001; effect size = 0.96). Time to boundary in the anterior-posterior direction was increased at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention (P &lt; .04; effect-size range = 0.61–0.78) and postintervention (P &lt; .04) during the eyes-open condition. Conclusion A 4-week rehabilitation program improved a multidimensional profile of health in participants with CAI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Powden ◽  
Matthew C. Hoch ◽  
Beth E. Jamali ◽  
Johanna M. Hoch

Context The accurate evaluation of self-reported changes in function throughout the rehabilitation process is important for determining patient progression. Currently, how a response shift (RS) may affect the accuracy of self-reported functional assessment in a population with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unknown. Objective To examine the RS in individuals with CAI after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Twenty adults (5 men, 15 women; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of the ankle “giving way” in the 3 months before the study, and a score ≤24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Intervention(s) Individuals participated in 12 intervention sessions over 4 weeks and daily home ankle strengthening and stretching. Main Outcome Measure(s) Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and 2-week follow-up). At the postintervention and 2-week follow-up, participants completed then-test assessments to measure RS. Then-test assessments are retrospective evaluations of perceived baseline function completed after an intervention. The PROs consisted of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living and Sport subscales, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity and Work subscales. We used repeated-measures analyses of variance to compare preintervention with then-test measurements. Individual-level RSs were examined by determining the number of participants who experienced preintervention to then-test differences that exceeded the calculated minimal detectable change. Results We did not identify an RS for any PRO (F &gt; 2.338, P &gt; .12), indicating no group-level differences between the preintervention and retrospective then-test assessments. Individual-level RS was most prominent in the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport subscale (n = 6, 30%) and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity subscale (n = 9, 45%). Conclusions No group-level RS was identified for any PRO after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program in individuals with CAI. This finding indicates that traditional assessment of self-reported function was accurate for evaluating the short-term effects of rehabilitation in those with CAI. Low levels of individual-level RS were identified.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Jay ◽  
Sannie Vester Thorsen ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Ramon Aiguadé ◽  
Jose Casaña ◽  
...  

Background and Objective. Musculoskeletal pain is common in the population. Negative beliefs about musculoskeletal pain and physical activity may lead to avoidance behavior resulting in absence from work. The present study investigates the influence of fear avoidance beliefs on long-term sickness absence. Methods. Workers of the general working population with musculoskeletal pain (low back, neck/shoulder, and/or arm/hand pain; n = 8319) from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study were included. Long-term sickness absence data were obtained from the Danish Register for Evaluation and Marginalization (DREAM). Time-to-event analyses (cox regression) controlled for various confounders estimated the association between fear avoidance beliefs (very low, low, moderate [reference category], high, and very high) at baseline and long-term sickness absence (LTSA; ≥6 consecutive weeks) during a 2-year follow-up. Results. During the 2-year follow-up, 10.2% of the workers experienced long-term sickness absence. In the fully adjusted model, very high-level fear avoidance increased the risk of LTSA with hazard ratio (HR) of 1.48 (95% CI 1.15-1.90). Similar results were seen analyses stratified for occupational physical activity, i.e., sedentary workers (HR 1.72 (95% CI 1.04-2.83)) and physically active workers (HR 1.48 (95% CI 1.10-2.01)). Conclusion. A very high level of fear avoidance is a risk factor for long-term sickness absence among workers with musculoskeletal pain regardless of the level of occupational physical activity. Future interventions should target fear avoidance beliefs through information and campaigns about the benefits of staying active when having musculoskeletal pain.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Uri Gottlieb ◽  
Shmuel Springer

Context: Arthroscopic surgical repair of the shoulder is recommended when conservative treatment for shoulder instability (SI) fails. However, many patients undergoing this procedure do not return to same level of activity. Psychological factors and muscle strength have been shown to be associated with postoperative outcomes in other musculoskeletal conditions. Objective: To investigate the association between fear avoidance, muscle strength, and short-term function in patients after surgical SI repair. Methods: Twenty-five male patients who underwent shoulder surgery following at least one event of SI were included in this study. Evaluations of fear avoidance related to physical activity and disability were performed at baseline (during the first encounter with the physical therapist) and 7 to 8 weeks postsurgery. Fear avoidance beliefs were assessed using the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. Disability was assessed using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and the Western Ontario SI index. The follow-up evaluation (weeks 7–8) included measurement of maximal isometric strength of the internal and external rotators. Nonparametric Kendall tau was used to determine the correlations between baseline fear avoidance, muscle strength, and disability at follow-up. Results: Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire at follow-up was significantly correlated with baseline Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (τ = .520, P < .001), baseline fear avoidance (τ = .399, P = .008), and both internal rotator (τ = −.400, P = .005) and external rotator strength (τ = −.353, P = .014). Western Ontario SI index at follow-up was moderately correlated with baseline Western Ontario SI index (τ = .387, P = .007), internal rotator (τ = −.427, P = .003), and external rotator (τ = −.307, P = .032), but not with baseline Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (τ = .22, P = .145). Conclusions: The results indicate a possible association between fear avoidance beliefs and short-term disability. Further studies are warranted to better explore and understand these relationships.


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