Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the knee outcome survey-activities for daily living scale

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to cross-culturally adapt the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale into Arabic and to assess its psychometric properties (internal consistency, reliability, validity, and responsiveness) in patients with knee disorders.

Methods: The cross-cultural adaptation process for the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale into Arabic was performed consistent with the published guidelines. The psychometric properties of this Arabic version were then evaluated. Participants completed this version three times: at baseline, 2–4 days later, and 4 weeks later. Correlations between the Arabic version of Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale and the Arabic version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey, Get Up and Go, and Ascending/Descending stairs tests were evaluated.

Results: Linguistic and cultural issues were addressed. The Arabic version of the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.97) and excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). Construct validity of the Arabic version of the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale with the Arabic version of Short Form-36 Health Survey subscales ranged from r = 0.28 to 0.53, p < 0.001. Criterion validity with the Get Up and Go and Ascending/Descending stairs tests ranged from r = −0.47 to −0.60, p < 0.01. This Arabic version was able to detect changes 4 weeks later (effect size = 1.12 and minimum clinically important difference = 14 points).

Conclusions: The Arabic version of the Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale is a reliable, valid and responsive measure for assessing knee-related symptoms and functional limitations

Implications for rehabilitation

• The Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale-Arabic is a reliable, valid and responsive measure for assessing knee-related functional limitations.

• This Arabic version can be used in clinical practice and for research purposes to assess symptoms and functional limitations in Arabic-speaking patients with knee disorders.

• This scale is responsive to track therapeutic outcome of Arabic-speaking patients with knee disorders.

Keywords:

• Knee
• outcome measures
• Arabic
• psychometric properties
• assessment procedures

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the physical therapists involved in this study for their assistance in administering the questionnaire. We also acknowledge the assistance of the translators and expert committee during the cross-cultural adaptation process.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Kuwait University (research grant No. NP03/14).