Lene Aasdahl1,2, Gunn Hege Marchand3,4, Sigmund Østgård Gismervik1,3, Kjersti Myhre5, Marius Steiro Fimland2,3,4, Cecilie Røe5,6. 1. Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 2. Unicare Helsefort Rehabilitation Centre, Rissa, Norway. 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. 4. Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. 5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 6. Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study with 12 months of follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) the unidimensionality of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and (2) whether single questions in the FABQ predict future sickness absence as well as the whole scale. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The fear-avoidance model is a leading model in describing the link between musculoskeletal pain and chronic disability. However, reported measurement properties have been inconsistent regarding the FABQ. METHODS: Individuals (n = 722) sick listed due to musculoskeletal, unspecified or common mental health disorders undergoing rehabilitation was included. A Rasch analysis was applied to evaluate the measurement properties of FABQ and its two subscales (physical activity and work). Linear regression was used to assess how well single items predicted future sickness absence. RESULTS: The Rasch analysis did not support the FABQ or its two subscales representing a unidimensional construct. The 7-point scoring of the items was far too fine meshed and in the present population the data only supported a yes or no or a 3-point response option. The items were invariant to age, whereas two of the items revealed sex differences. The item "I do not think that I will be back to my normal work within 3 months" was the best predictor of future sickness absence. Adding the item "I should not do my regular work with my present pain" improved the prediction model slightly. CONCLUSION: The FABQ is not a good measure of fear-avoidance beliefs about work or physical activity, and the predictive property of the FABQ questionnaire is most likely related to expectations rather than fear. Based on these results we do not recommend using the FABQ to measure fear-avoidance beliefs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.
STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study with 12 months of follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) the unidimensionality of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and (2) whether single questions in the FABQ predict future sickness absence as well as the whole scale. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The fear-avoidance model is a leading model in describing the link between musculoskeletal pain and chronic disability. However, reported measurement properties have been inconsistent regarding the FABQ. METHODS: Individuals (n = 722) sick listed due to musculoskeletal, unspecified or common mental health disorders undergoing rehabilitation was included. A Rasch analysis was applied to evaluate the measurement properties of FABQ and its two subscales (physical activity and work). Linear regression was used to assess how well single items predicted future sickness absence. RESULTS: The Rasch analysis did not support the FABQ or its two subscales representing a unidimensional construct. The 7-point scoring of the items was far too fine meshed and in the present population the data only supported a yes or no or a 3-point response option. The items were invariant to age, whereas two of the items revealed sex differences. The item "I do not think that I will be back to my normal work within 3 months" was the best predictor of future sickness absence. Adding the item "I should not do my regular work with my present pain" improved the prediction model slightly. CONCLUSION: The FABQ is not a good measure of fear-avoidance beliefs about work or physical activity, and the predictive property of the FABQ questionnaire is most likely related to expectations rather than fear. Based on these results we do not recommend using the FABQ to measure fear-avoidance beliefs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.
Authors: Israel Macías-Toronjo; José L Sánchez-Ramos; María J Rojas-Ocaña; Esperanza Begoña García-Navarro Journal: Medicina (Kaunas) Date: 2020-11-26 Impact factor: 2.430