The ProFitMap-neck – reliability and validity of a questionnaire for measuring symptoms and functional limitations in neck pain

Abstract

Purpose: To assess overall reliability and validity of a neck-specific questionnaire, the Profile Fitness Mapping neck questionnaire (ProFitMap-neck), on three chronic neck pain groups. Method: Participating groups were as follows: whiplash associated disorders, inpatient care (IP-WAD, n = 127); nonspecific neck pain, inpatient care (IP-NS, n = 83) and nonspecific neck pain subjects (non-IP-NS, n = 104). All groups answered the ProFitMap-neck and the SF-36, whereas non-IP-NS also answered the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Functional Self-Efficacy Scale (SES). Internal consistency, test–retest reliability and components of convergent construct, face and content validity were determined for the ProFitMap-neck. Results: The ProFitMap-neck showed good internal consistency in all three groups, and ICC test–retest reliability (0.80–0.91). Good correlation (0.66–0.78) and highest agreement was reached with NDI. According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, the symptom scale of the ProFitMap-neck was mainly classified to the domain of impairments–body functions, and the functional limitation scale to the activity limitation domain. Conclusion: The results indicate that the ProFitMap-neck is valid for measuring symptoms and functional limitations in people with chronic neck pain. The combination of a composite total score of symptoms and function as well as separate scores of each domain makes ProFitMap-neck suitable for research as well as in clinical practice.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The ProFitMap-neck can be used as a valid self-assessment tool for measuring symptoms and functional limitations in people belonging to the most prevalent categories of neck pain.

• The combination of the symptom and functional limitation questionnaire scores in a total score can be used for an overall clinical judgment.

Keywords::

• The ProFitMap-neck
• whiplash
• outcome measure
• psychometric properties
• neck
• pain

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to direct a special thanks to professor emeritus Gunnar Grimby for guidance on the ICF classification, physiologist Henrik Cyrén for most valuable help during the development of the Profile Fitness Mapping scales, Maria Frykman and Nisse Larson for valuable assistance during data collection, processing and analyses, and Margaretha Marklund for graphical work.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no declarations of interest.

Appendix

The Profile Fitness Mapping Neck Questionnaire (ProFitMap-neck)

The Symptom Scale

The Functional Limitation Scale

Method of score calculation for The Profile Fitness Mapping neck scales

The table shows the weighting and maximum score of each item in the Profile Fitness Mapping neck scales, and the calculation of scores for each index.

Frequency (f) is the answer on how often the symptom is felt (6-point scale from 1 = never/very seldom, to 6 = very often/always). Intensity (i) is the answer on how much the symptom is felt (6-point scale from 7 = nothing/none at all, to 12 = almost unbearable/unbearable, all/maximally). The answers of the functional limitation scale (fl) range from 1 = very good, no problem, very satisfying, very likely, to 6 = very bad, very difficult/impossible, very dissatisfying, very unlikely.

The result of each index is expressed as the percentage of the maximum score, where 100% is the best possible result. Adjustments due to omitted questions are done by removing the maximum score for those questions from the denominator before calculating the percentage.

Table