Development of a Spanish version of the “Backache Index”

Subtitle: Cross-cultural linguistic adaptation and reliability

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cuesta-Vargas, Antonio^a | Gonzaleaz-Sanchez, Manuel^a | Farasyn, Andre^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy and Psychiatry, University of Malaga (UMA), Spain | [b] Faculty of Physical Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: andre.farasyn@vub.ac.be

Abstract: Introduction:In routine clinical practice a physical examination should include an assessment of ability/function. The use of a scale or index in low back pain (LBP) is mainly used to categorize patients and to measure syndrome severity. For this reason we developed an easy and quick to perform standardised measuring procedure of impairment in patients with LBP without using inclinometers. The new “Backache Index” (BAI) is applied in order to help therapists, doctors, and surgeons perform physical examinations easily. The factor of presence or absence of pain with respect to different lumbar movements is elaborated for the patient with LBP, standing in an erect position. This resulted in outcome scores (0–3) for five impairment examinations of the trunk from which the sum of the scores gives the BAI (max. 15 points). Objectives:The purpose of this study was to develop the linguistic adaptation and to explore the reliability of this new Backache Index translated in a Spanish version called “indice de Dolor de Espalda” or IDE, which can fulfil the existing need for a reliable routine examination in the clinical environment for Spanish speaking clinicians and patients. Methods:Two independent translations were made by two separate professional translators to Spanish. Both versions were compared and consensus resulted in a single translation. In a pain center patients were asked to participate in this project as volunteers. The exclusion criteria have been used in patients with LBP suffering of severe spinal pathology or having deseases. In total 46 patients (67% females, age = 52 ± 13 years) underwent the physical examination at the first session (IDE-1) and were retested without any treatment after 3 days (IDE-2). Results:The two translations submitted by respective experts were identical and the final IDE was used in futher clinical examinations. The test-retest after 3 days of the same group revailed that the reliability for the 5 outcome scores was good (ICC ≥ 0.73). No significant difference was found between IDE-1 (4.65 ± 4.15 ) and IDE-2 (4.72 ± 4.20) and the absolute reliability was perfect with an ICC=0.97. Conclusions:The IDE form facilitates a better diffusion under the Spanish speaking population, allowing it to maintain the degree of homogenenity and acceptance that the “Indice de Dolor de Espalda” or IDE has in clinical practice, helping to spread among the Hispanic world one of the objectives that the creator of this index raised when it was developed.

Keywords: Low back pain, Dolor de Espalda, physical examination, Backache Index, scales, Spanish version

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2010-0256

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 105-110, 2010