Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Hausa version of Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire in patients with non-specific low back pain

Objectives: Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (OMPSQ) is widely used in clinical practice and for research purpose to screen the risk of chronicity in patients with Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). The questionnaire has been cross-culturally adapted into different languages, but to date, there has not been Hausa version of the questionnaire. This study is important as the Hausa language is widely spoken across sub-Saharan Africa. The study aims to cross-culturally translate the English version of the (OMPSQ) into Hausa language (OMPSQ-H) and to test its psychometric properties in Hausa patients with NSLBP.

Methods: This observational study involved the use of forward-backwards translation method for the English version of OMPSQ. Thus, 124 male and female participants with subacute NSLBP were recruited using convenient sampling techniques. The psychometric properties statistically tested included reliability, internal-consistency, ceiling and floor effects, acceptability and construct validity.

Results: The Hausa version of OMPSQ has demonstrated good reliability (ICC=0.82) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.72) with good acceptability as all questions were answered in 5 min. Responsiveness was adequate as OMPSQ-H retest scores demonstrated good correlation with the global rating of change scale scores (r=0.67, p=0.01). Construct validity was evaluated using principal component analysis and it reveals six components structure for the OMPSQ-H.

Conclusions: The OMPSQ-H was successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted with no problem of comprehension. Moreover, it has shown adequate psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, reliability, responsiveness and constructs validity. Consequently, the OMPSQ-H can be considered as a valid tool for identifying and screening both psychosocial risk factors and risk of chronicity of NSLBP in Hausa population.