Background: The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) has been found to possess adequate
psychometric properties in low back pain (LBP) patients worldwide. The aim of this
study was to translate the questionnaire into a classical Indian language (Odiya)
and validate in the Indian population (FreBAQ-I). Materials and Methods: The English edition of the FreBAQ was transformed into Indian classical language
(Odiya). One hundred adult patients with chronic LBP were recruited for psychometric
evaluation using Rasch analysis. Demographic parameters, clinical characteristics
like pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and Beck's depression inventory were assessed
along with responses to the study questionnaire. Results: The FreBAQ-I correlated well with intensity of pain (r = −0.19, P = 0.04), duration
of the LBP (r = 0.35, P < 0.001), depression score (r = 0.25, P = 0.012), but not
statitistically with disability (r = 0.06, P = 0.49). The fit statistics was neither
excessively positive nor negative, and the average agreeability measure of the study
participants progressed as presumed across the different categories. Internal consistency
of the FreBAQ-I version was found to be good with a person reliability of 0.54 and
Cronbach's alpha of 0.91. Conclusions: Patients with greater disturbed body perception are addressed adequately by the questionnaire.
All nine items are essential and adequate, which makes the survey complete, although
item 2 was found to be endorsed more often. Overall, the FreBAQ-I has suitable psychometric
properties in Indian populations with chronic LBP.
Key-words:
Altered perception - chronic - Indian - low back pain - modified Fremantle questionnaire