Translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric testing of the Yoruba version of Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire in patients with low-back pain

Abstract

Purpose

To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire into Yoruba language.

Materials and Methods

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Yoruba version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was carried out following the Guillemin criteria. One hundred and thirty-one individuals with chronic low-back pain participated in the psychometric evaluation of the Yoruba language translation. Cronbach’s alpha (α), principal component analysis, intra-class correlation, Bland–Altman analysis, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and minimal detectable difference were used for the analysis. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05.

Results and Conclusion

The mean age of the respondents was 53.6 ± 11.6 years. The internal consistency of the Yoruba language version of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.9. Principal component analysis yielded a three-factor structure including the “work”, “beliefs related to work”, and “physical activity” which accounted for 61.6% of variance in the Yoruba translation. Test–retest reliability of the Yoruba translation yielded an Intra class correlation coefficient 0.97 (0.95–0.98). The Yoruba Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was poorly correlated with the Visual Analog Scale (r = 0.01) and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (r = 0.3). The minimal detectable difference of the Yoruba translation was 7.0. The Yoruba Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire demonstrated excellent psychometric properties similar to existing versions and is appropriate for clinical use among Yoruba-speaking patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire is a culturally sensitive psychosocial outcome measure, necessitating its existence, and adaptation into different languages.

• The instrument was translated and culturally adapted into the Yoruba language following the Guillemin criteria.

• The Yoruba translation demonstrated excellent internal consistency, test–retest reliability and weak correlations with the Visual analog scale and Roland–Morris Disability Scale.

• The Yoruba version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire can be used to assess fear-avoidance beliefs among Yoruba speaking patients with low-back pain.

Keywords:

• Validity
• reliability
• psychosocial
• pain
• outcome

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya for providing technical support through the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship Post-Doctoral Fellowship. We would also like to thank all the patients who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.