Publication Cover
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
An International Journal of Physical Therapy
Volume 38, 2022 - Issue 6
253
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Descriptive Report

Development of the Body-Relatedness Observation Scale: A feasibility study

, PhD, , PhD, , PhD & , PhD
Pages 830-838 | Received 15 Mar 2019, Accepted 30 May 2020, Published online: 10 Jul 2020
 

ABSTRACT

Background

One characteristic of somatoform (DSM-IV) and somatic symptom disorder (DSM-5) is the troubled relation of patients to their body. To assess body-relatedness, standardized observation by a physical therapist may add valuable information to questionnaires. Purpose: This study examines the feasibility of a physiotherapeutic observation instrument: the Body-Relatedness Observation Scale (BROS). Methods: Factorial validity and inter-rater reliability of observer scores were studied in 191 patients performing two short exercises, lying face up. Fourteen indicators of body-relatedness were selected, covering execution of instructions, perception of the body, muscle tension, and behavioral adaptation to somatic symptoms. Results: Inter-rater reliability values (Kappa or Intraclass correlation [ICC] according to model 1,1) were excellent for four observation scores, substantial for two, fair for two, and poor for six. Four out of five items relating to patients’ ability to perceive the body had low inter-rater reliability values (ICC < 0.40 or Kappa < 0.20). Categorical principal components analysis with the eight reliable scores indicated a 1-factor structure including seven items with Cronbach’s alpha 0.69. Conclusion: This initial analysis of a structured physical therapeutic observation for people with somatic symptom disorder indicated modestly sound psychometric quality of observations of execution of instructions, muscle tension, and behavioral adaptation, but not of patients’ ability to perceive the body adequately. This shows that body-related observations are feasible and indicates the viability of further development of the BROS.

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank the psychosomatic physical therapists that contributed to this study: Ton Buil, Annemieke Eijgelaar, Anke Hagen, Arryetta Koers, Karin Lamers, Ans de Lange, José Polfliet, and Claartje Verheul.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 325.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.